Anna Sue Hawkins

Anna “Sue" Hawkins passed peacefully and went home to be with our Savior on August 15, 2025, as her two daughters were holding her hands. She was two months shy of her 91st birthday.

Sue was born to Hattie Hester (Wilson) and Joseph R. Wood on October 26, 1934, in Red Boiling Springs, TN. She eloped with her high school sweetheart, Tommy Hawkins, on June 4, 1955, but not before she worked at the silk mill in town after graduation, while Tommy served in the Korean War. After their marriage, they moved to Rock Island, IL, and together built a comfortable life with their three children - Karen, Shawn and Melanie. In addition to being a dedicated mother, Sue was: the ultimate homemaker & cook; a fashionista who reveled in keeping up with current fashions; an excellent seamstress for herself and children; enjoyed hosting church bridal and baby showers; kept an immaculate home and yard while being dressed like she was the perfect 1950’s mother (think June Cleaver of ‘Leave it to Beaver’); practically vacuumed every falling leaf that barely touched the ground; best baseboard duster ever; ironer extraordinaire and yes that included her pillowcases, underwear & Tommy’s handkerchiefs; and finally a bleach queen like no other making sure any and everything she could get her hands on got bleached!

Sue did fly with Tommy in his Cessna over the years but usually did so in the back of the plane with a towel over her head as any bump to her meant they were going to crash. (They actually had to set down the plane in a snow-dusted cornfield in Illinois when the engine froze up one winter journey from Tennessee!). Sue was a room mother for her children and also served as the secretary/treasurer for a few years at Landmark Missionary Baptist Church where the family were members. Sue & Tommy later joined Bethany Baptist Church in Moline, IL and attended Harmony Baptist Church in Arlington, TX. The loss of their son Shawn in May 2002 forever changed Sue & Tommy’s life in many ways including buying a vacation home in Arlington, TX going back and forth until they permanently moved there in 2013.

Sue joins in Heaven her beloved husband Tommy who passed in 2014, as well as their son Shawn. She was preceded in death by her parents and her siblings Doris E. Vaughn, Billy Joe Vaughn, Joseph Rudolph Wood II, and Mack Edwin Wood.

Sue is survived by her daughters, Karen (Alan) Phillips and Melanie (Kent) Wheeler. She was especially proud of every one of her six grandchildren: Adam, Marcus C, Benjamin, Marcus D, Sara and Jake. She adored each of her 12 great-grandchildren and was anxiously awaiting the upcoming birth of #13. She is also survived by her sister Carolyn Wood and her sister-in-law Nancy Carlton, as well as several dear nieces and nephews.

The family wants to thank the staff of Wilshire Senior Living and AlevCare Hospice for helping make Sue’s life as happy and comfortable as possible since 2023. Also, we thank her special Texas friends Sheryl D. and Shirley H. who were there for Sue, especially these past couple of years.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made by check to: Oak Grove Baptist Church, 6424 Hwy. 431 North, Springfield, TN 37172. Please note on your check “In Memory of Sue Hawkins.”