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Celebrating the life of Michelle C. Kent Hawkins
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Obituary for Michelle C. Kent Hawkins
Remembering the Life & Legacy of Our Beloved Family Member
Michelle C. Kent Hawkins
A Celebration of her life will occur on Saturday, December 12, 2015
Viewing: 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
Ezekiel Baptist Church 5701 Grays Avenue (57th & Grays Avenue) Philadelphia, PA 19143
Homegoing Service at 10:00 a.m.
Interment to conclude at Fernwood Cemetery
Life Story
Michelle Cora Linton Kent Hawkins was born September 10, 1952 in Philadelphia, PA. She made her earthly transition on December 2, 2015 at Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewyd, PA. She was one of two children born to the late Harold Linton and the late Elvera Bullock Linton Boyd who gave her the nickname of “Shelly.” Shelly grew up in Philadelphia, PA. She graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1970. After graduating from high school, she attended the Wilford Academy School of Cosmetology. In 1971, Shelly married Robert Kent. Together, they had two sons, Robert and Rodney. In 1985, Shelly married the late Raymond Hawkins. Together they had two daughters, Rhea and Rae Lynn. Shelly was employed in various occupations. She worked as the sales manager for the La Boutique ladies apparel store, which operated at two locations in Southwest Philadelphia. For many years, she worked as a per diem administrative assistant in various offices for the School District of Philadelphia. She was most recently employed as an assistant at “Mimi’s Pamper Me Learning Tree,” which is a licensed day-care center owned and operated by her first cousin, Yvonne Bullock-Lee. Shelly received Christ at the age of 11 and was baptized by the late Reverend A. J. Spence at the Zion Hill Baptist Church where she served as a Junior Usher under the guidance of her paternal aunt and namesake, the late Cora Palmer. Shelly later became a member of the Pinn Memorial Baptist Church, where she worshipped for many years with her late husband, children and her mother-in-law, the late Elsie Rebecca Hawkins. Shelly’s most recent church home, where she worshipped with many members of the Bullock Family, was the Ezekiel Baptist Church, under the guidance of the Reverend Brian D. King, Sr. Shelly was a very outgoing person and she loved socializing with family and friends. Her late husband, Raymond Hawkins belonged to a group of lifelong friends who called themselves “The Bus Boys.” They gathered once or twice a month at each other’s homes to play pinochle, watch sporting events on television and reminisce about their lives together. The spouses of these friends were called “The Bus Girls.” Shelly loved being a “Bus Girl” and she loved hosting the group’s get-togethers, where she took pride in showing off her cooking skills. Shelly’s other favorite things to do were sewing, writing poetry, nurturing her plant collection, and collecting cow figurines. Above all else, Shelly loved the Lord and she loved her family. She took great pride in the relationships she had with her children, grandchildren, godchildren, “adopted children” and “adopted grandchildren.” Her relationship with her first cousins could better be described as that of “sister/cousin.” There was nothing she would not do for them and there was nothing they would not do for her. She also enjoyed interacting with her extended family at the annual Bullock Family Reunion. Shelly’s magnetic personality, effervescent spirit, and sense humor, if captured by a television show title, would be, “Everybody Loves Shelly!” Shelly was a very loving, spiritual person. She was a good listener, and a caretaker of many. She also loved to give family members nicknames: She had only one sibling, her sister, Sheila, whom she affectionately called “My Onliest.” Her children were “Mooda Mook” (Rodney); “Lumpy” (Rhea); and “Diggity” (Rae Lynn). Her oldest son, Robert, was spared being given one of these made up nicknames. Shelly had a striking physical resemblance to her older sister, Sheila. Many times she was mistaken for Sheila. Her favorite humorously stated response to this mistaken identity was, “I’m Shelly, not Sheila.” Shelly also enjoyed spending time with her companion of 14 years, her fiancé, Lamont Artis. They enjoyed going out to dinner, dancing, traveling and watching movies together. They even won the Bop Dance Contest at a Valentine Weekend Get Away trip with friends. Lamont was devoted to Shelly and could be found by her side day in and day out as he became her primary caretaker during the last weeks of her long illness. Shelly loved life and she lived it to the fullest extent. Her precious memory and beautiful spirit will live on in the hearts of her family and friends forever. She leaves to cherish her memory: her stepfather, Bruce Boyd; four children: Robert Kent, Rodney Kent, Rhea White (William, Sr.), and Rae Lynn Hawkins; one stepdaughter, Gilletta Khari; 17 grandchildren; one sister, Sheila Linton; one sister-in-law, Patricia Smith; one niece, Roberta Lynn Hawkins; one great-aunt: Mattie Simpkins, one aunt, Sallie Smith (Dayton); godparents: Donald and Elaine Patterson; four godchildren; a devoted fiancé, Lamont Artis; special childhood friends, Phyllis Garrison and Joanne Jordan and a host of other relatives and friends.
There Is No Pain - Anymore
By Kathryn Elizabeth Clarke
There's sorrow when our precious loved ones, Leave here for Heaven's wondrous Shore, But God gives loving consolation - The pain they felt will be no more!
For those who knew Him here, there's healing! There's gladness, peace, unlike before! God's arms embrace – with joy, to greet them! Earth's pain will trouble – nevermore!
Gone is the darkness of life's sorrows! The Light of Christ shines brightly o'er! The saints of God sing songs of praises! They reap rewards God held in store!
We mourn down here for those we cherished, But God has comfort and restores Our broken hearts, our grief, our weeping - To know our loved ones hurt – no more.
Revelation 21:4
And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying; neither shall there be any more pain, for the former things are passed away.
