Memory Book
Jonnathan Ross Hawkins
Jonnathon Ross Hawkins
Jonnathan Ross Hawkins, 19 Years old
1986-2006
Jonnathan was a full-time college student and loved studying. He worked full-time, a resposibility that made him, in his words, "feel like a man". His hobbies were exercising and reading (his favorite book of the Bible was Proverbs), and he liked all kinds of music, especially rap.
Comment from Paula Hawkins
I wrote Jonnathan the following letter, which I placed in his casket:
To my favorite son, "I'm your only son", Jonnathan: God has given, or a gift from the Lord. You came into the world early and you left early. My little warrior.
You left early but I thank God for giving me the assignment to raise you and train you in the way you should go. It has been a joy and a true pleasure to call you son. I'm glad you knew that I was proud of you and that your family was proud of you. You had big plans and big visions and I know you were building on everything that God had placed in your heart to do.
I'm still proud of you for being a good big Grandma's joy — spoiled little boy who didn't like to wash his clothes because he knew Grandma would or Momma would (Grandma put them away but not Momma). Spoiled with lots of love and I'm glad you were. Although you were spoiled, you didn't take it for granted; you loved us back by showing us love in so many ways. To know you was to love you.
Baby boy, you were nothing but a blessing. I always knew there was something special and that you belonged to God from the very beginning. The enemies just didn't know, they were too blind to see because your light always shined. You know I heard your cry but so did God and we still hear, "why Momma?" All I know baby, is that you belong to the Lord and your blood cries out to Him, so be it unto the murder's, according to God's word, and let vengeance have its perfect work according to His word.
I take comfort in knowing you're with the Lord and you get to see Jesus, Pam and me and the rest of your family one day. Your spirit will live forever; it will never die. I'll be sad and I'll miss you with all my heart and I'll miss our intimate conversations, but I'll be okay because I know you're with the Lord. You get to hear Him say "well done, my child, I'm proud of you and I am well pleased with you."
You were so loving, caring, sharing, giving, successful, prosperous, victorious, kind, pleasant, well mannered, trustworthy, always a blessing, respectful, obedient, warrior, full of vision and purpose, excellent mentor, compassionate, meek, humble, playful, lover of children, hard worker, excellent spirit, forgiving, faithful, friend, the best brother, best grandson and a best nephew but most of all the best son in the whole wide world and so much more to me. Now I know who you really remind me of — Jesus! God has already told me "he's with me". That's all that matters.
"You're my favorite son." "I'm your only son." (That's funny). Love, Momma.
Comment From Tracey Maxwell
Paula, reading your beautiful letter to Jonnathan has brought home to me anew the enormity of your loss. I thank you for sharing your love with us through this page, so that we can gain strength from it.
With Admiration, Tracey