Dade County History Book

HENRY GRADY HAWKINS AND VELMA BEATRICE RIDDLE

Henry Grady Hawkins was born November 21, 1894 to Calendar E. (Petey) Hawkins and Mary Virginia Harris. Grady Hawkins served in the U.S. Army during World War I.  He married Velma Beatrice Riddle, daughter of Roland Riddle and Ellen Cordell on May 16, 1925 in Dade Co., GA. The couple lived with Grady’s father on the family farm in the Cloverdale community of Rising Fawn. Grady was a farmer most of his life. He loved to read and gave nicknames to his children and grandchildren.  Grady and Velma had five children: Henry Grady Hawkins, Jr. (H.G.), b. Sept. 11, 1925, Ernest Middleton (Brody), b. May 13, 1927, Mary Ellen, b. Aug. 15, 1929, Catherine Ruth, b. Sept 22, 1932 and Raliegh Alexander, b. July 29, 1940.  Velma Hawkins died on July 18, 1965 and  Grady died April 18, 1976. Both are buried in the Beene Cemetery near Valley Head, AL.

H. G. Hawkins, Jr. married Savannah Nadine Nunley Sept. 13, 1943. They had two daughters, Valorie Nadine who married Ron Taylor, and Cathy Virginia who married Rick Sharp. Ron and Valorie have one daughter, Katherine Kristie Taylor and live on part of the Hawkins farm in Cloverdale.  Cathy and Rick live at Head River. Valorie is a teacher’s aid and Cathy was a special education teacher for many years.  H.G. retired from Combustion Engineering. He died June 4, 1991.

Brody Hawkins served in the U.S. Army at the end of World War II.  He married Mary Verenice Cooper on Sept. 18, 1953. Brody worked as a carpenter and construction supervisor in the Chattanooga area. Verenice retired as public health nurse in Dade County. Their oldest child Linda Elaine was born Jan. 29, 1955. She married Lane Wilson and they have one son Sam. Linda is a teacher at Dade County High School. Ronald Edward, born June 14, 1956 married Melody Morgan.They have three children, Ben, Jenny and Rachel.  Ronnie has one granddaughter, Madison Laurel Hawkins, daughter of Ben and his wife Belinda.  Ronnie is a civil engineer employed by TVA. Linda and Ronnie and their families live in Cloverdale on the Hawkins farm. Brody Hawkins died Nov. 17, 1998.

Mary Hawkins married Harold Forester July 4, 1947. Harold Forester worked as a carpenter building houses in Chattanooga. Mary was a homemaker and teacher’s aide. The Foresters had two sons, James Edward and Larry Wayne.  James married Erline Jackson and Larry married Patricia Baines.  James has one daughter Natalie and lives in Raliegh, NC where he has worked for IBM and other computer firms.  He also has two step-children Angie and Anthony Jackson.  He has one grandson Shane Forester.  Larry and Pat have twin daughters, Abby and Katy. They live in Huntsville, AL.  He is a minister.

Catherine Hawkins married Clarence Goode. Clarence was in the service for many years.  Catherine worked in the garment industry. They raised their family mostly in Kings Mountain, NC.  Catherine moved back to Rising Fawn in the late 70’s. They had five children:  Michael, Jeffrey, David, Coleen and Kenneth. Michael has two children, Michelle and Michael, Jr.  Jeff has two daughters, Wendy and Tabitha. David has a daughter April and a son, D.J. They all live in NC.  Coleen married Van Autrey and lives in Dade Co. They have two sons, Ivan and Clay.  Kenneth Goode married April Reese. They live part of the Hawkins family farm with their children Alex, Katelyn, and Gracie. Catherine lives at the Hawkins family homeplace where she grew up.

Raliegh Hawkins married Cynthia Dyar and had two children Raliegh Alexander, Jr. and Mary Beatrice Valorie. Raliegh is in the Coast Guard, stationed in Wisconsin.  He and his wife Kim have a son named Brandon Alexander and a daughter Katelyn.  Mary lives at Ider, AL and has one daughter Alexandra. Raliegh also married Joan Cameron. They have two children, Cameron Alexander and Carrie Frances.  Raliegh worked as a machinist and lives on part of the Hawkins family farm in Cloverdale. Raleigh died Feb. 1998. Cameron and Carrie both live in Cloverdale. Cameron has two children, Austin and Samantha. Carrie married Stephen Avans in 2003.

Linda Hawkins Wilson

Rising Fawn, GA  30738