Mary Etta Hawkins was born on April 12, 1927 to Emmett Hawkins and Eva Hurd in Woodlawn, Texas.
Mary accepted Christ at an early age and her fellowship was in the Baptist religion. As a child, Mary liked to dance and eventually learned to tap dance when she entered high school and joined an all-female tap dance group. She attended and graduated from Pemberton High School in Marshall, Texas. Sometime after graduation, she met Isaiah Thompson. They eventually fell in love, got married, and decided to move to Chicago for better job opportunities.
They moved to the southeast side of Chicago. Isaiah worked at the infamous Chicago Stock Yard and Mary went to school and become a practical nurse. They eventually decided they were ready to have a family. Unfortunately, their 1st born son, Ronald was stillborn. Later on, they were blessed with their daughter, Debra. Mary decided to be a stay-at-home mom and raise Debra, but was also managing to do part-time typing and clerical work from home.
Isaiah left the stockyard and started working at Libby-McNeil Food Processing Company. Mary moved on and was a secretary at the Woodlawn Community Organization on East 63rd Street. The Reverend Doctor Jonnie Coleman was also there and noticed Mary. She eventually befriended Mary and asked her to leave there and be the head accountant for her new church, formally known as Christ Unity Temple. Mary left and never looked back. As Christ Unity Temple was non-denominational, Mary had no problem with working and joining this new position and brought her family into this new church. She faithfully served the church for over 50 years until she retired.
Mary was an excellent cook, but her specialty was making a mean sweet potato pie and banana pudding. The church staff was always asking her to make them all the time. As a young wife, she did beautiful crochet work. She made dollies and blankets. She loved a good game of straight whist. Most of all, she wanted to see the world. Travel became her passion. Her energy was boundless. The Energizer Bunny was second to Mary. She was a fashion plate from head to toe. She kept an immaculate house. She never sat still. If you really knew Mary, you would know that once she started laughing and something was really funny, her laugh was infectious and it would make you laugh as well.
The movie “There’s Something About Mary” had nothing on this Mary. She was truly a remarkable and amazing woman.
Mary is survived by her daughter, Debra Thompson-Cokley. She was preceded in death by her husband, Isaiah Thompson; and son, Ronald (stillborn). We love you always. Rest in peace and in prayer.