Wayne Hawkins

Wayne Hawkins gained his Angel wings on Monday, July 2, 2018, with his loving wife at his side. Wayne was born June 6, 1938 to Etoy and Alvia Hawkins. Wayne was a member of the first graduating class of Liberty Eylau High School in 1956. After a brief career in the wholesale flower business, he went to work for Trans Texas Airways in 1960 in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. The airline later became known as Texas International Airlines which was the parent company for modern day Continental Airlines. He was immediately bitten by the travel bug and spent the next 50 plus years, getting his friends and clients to expand their horizons outside their comfort zones to travel and see this great world that we inhabit. In 1978 while working for Jackson Travel he took the Arkansas High School band to Ireland, for the St. Patrick's Day Parade. It was student travel that became his passion. He loved the idea of being able to introduce the younger generations to the many wonders this great world has to offer. Many people looked at Wayne as a Travel Agent, but he was really an educator and the world was his class room. In the mid 1990's after forming his own company Unique Events Tours, he partnered with NCA and was now able to be able to focus on his true passion which was student trips with Drill Teams and Cheerleaders for trips to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Eagle Aloha Bowl, and The Cotton Bowl Parade, and halftime, and the St. Patrick's Day Parade. How many countless young people's lives did he touch by being able to look back on a trip to one of these fabulous locations as the high point of their early lives, and used this as a spring board to greater exploration in their lives. He also opened the world of travel to many of his friends and family, by taking them as staff to these great locations. He was preceded in death by his brother, Bill Hawkins. Wayne is survived by his wife of over 60 years, Lucille Hawkins of Texarkana, Texas, one son, Mark Hawkins and his wife Christal of Texarkana, Texas, one granddaughter, Grace Hawkins of Texarkana, Texas, and one grandson, Jared Freeman of DeKalb, Texas, and his wife Marcie, and three Great Grandchildren, Gracie and Jasper Crain and Zack Freeman all of DeKalb; several nieces and nephews and one Grand Dog, Maggie and a host of friends and other relatives. He was a member of Cross View Baptist Church, Samaritan's Purse Christmas Box Program, and a former member of the Breakfast Kiwanis Club of Texarkana. A celebration of Wayne's life will be 11:00 A. M. Friday at Chapelwood Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Kelsey Coleman officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Gardens Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Thursday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P. M. In lieu of flowers, the family ask you to make a donation to The Liberty Eylau Education Foundation, (2901 Leopard Drive, Texarkana, TX Attn: Matt Frye) or the building fund at Cross View Baptist Church (3268 North FM 2148, Texarkana, TX.) Register online @ www.chapelwoodfuneralhome.com.