The Hawkins’ family, which also includes Tramaine, Sunny and Jamie Hawkins (pictured above), pay their final respects to the late Walter Hawkins, during a concert tribute at the Paramount Theater in Oakland, Calif. Photo courtesy of Adam TurnerWhen Hawkins’ funeral arrangements were made public, hundreds camped out in front of the Paramount Theater overnight to get the free tickets the Hawkins family made available to the public the next day. Yolanda Adams and a who’s who of the gospel world showed up for an all-star concert tribute to Hawkins.
The event was televised nationally on the GMC channel and featured performances by Hawkins’ former wife, Tramaine Hawkins, Donnie MCClurkin, Ledisi, Mary Mary, and Bebe Winans, among others.
The following morning, Bishop Kenneth Moales officiated the eulogy where he proclaimed Hawkins’ only son, Jamie Hawkins, the successor to the Love Center Church his father founded in 1972. In attendance at the ceremony, which drew over 4,000 well-wishers was Rev. Jesse Jackson, Bishop Carlton Pearson, and a host of celebrities.
President Barack Obama sent a letter in which he wrote, “Bishop Hawkins touched countless lives, and he will be sorely missed by all who knew and loved him.”
At the time of his death, Hawkins was working on “Love Alive VI” and had already recorded several demos. Hawkins hand-picked one of his musical mentees, Donald Lawrence, to work with the Hawkins family to finish the CD project. Following the funeral, the family planned to have his remains scattered at sea.
Edwin Hawkins, brother of the late gospel icon Walter Hawkins directs media traffic following the funeral. He said after his brother’s death from pancreatic cancer, that he lost he had lost his “best friend.” Photo courtesy of Adam Turner