Dr. R. Douglas Hawkins

Published 9:37 am Monday, September 7, 2015

Dr. R. Douglas Hawkins, age 80, a resident of Troy, died Saturday, September 5, 2015.

Funeral services were held Monday, September 7, 2015, at 2 p.m. at the First Baptist Church of Troy with Dr. Luke Lane and Exhorter Lamar Higgins officiating. Burial was at Green Hills Cemetery.

Visitation was held Sunday, September 6, 2015, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Green Hills Funeral Home in Troy. Visitation also was held one hour prior to the funeral services on Monday.

Dr. R. Douglas Hawkins

Dr. Hawkins was born on April 15, 1935, in Luverne, Alabama. He graduated from Luverne High School in 1953 and enrolled in Auburn University. He edited the freshman handbook and the yearbook, the Glomerta, and graduated from the school of veterinary medicine. He married Rachel Youngblood Hawkins and they moved to Troy in 1959. He purchased a veterinary clinic and practiced for 52 years.

He was appointed to the Board of Trustees of Troy State University in 1980 and served for 35 years. He was a charter member of Troy Jaycees and served as president and a charter member of the Pike County Pioneer Museum board. He organized the Greek system of Troy University and chartered the Pi Kappa Phi fraternity, where he served as chapter advisor for 25 years. He was a Rotarian for 52 years, served as the Pike County Chamber of Commerce President, was named Greek Man of the Year by Troy University, and served on the Troy-Pike Cultural Arts Center Board of Directors.

After the passing of his wife Rachel from cancer in 2006, he married Dean Scarbrough in February of 2009. He has enjoyed traveling, collecting Folk Art and attending Troy University athletic events.

Survivors include his wife, Dean Hawkins of Troy; his children, Martha Lynn Drinkard, Holly and Greg Anderson, Dr. Robert and Melanie Hawkins, Melissa Scarbrough, Frank and Joy Scarbrough, all of Troy; his grandchildren, Rob (Morgan) Drinkard, Hawkins (Amy) Drinkard, Dean (Anna) Anderson, Rachel (Alex) Winke, Alla (Jake) Smith, Douglas Hawkins, Mary Kane Hawkins, Haley Hawkins, Emily Grace Scarbrough and Lawson Scarbrough and DQ Toney; and a great-granddaughter, Emory Drinkard.

Dr. Hawkins was preceded in death by his parents, Heflin Nix Hawkins and Temple Finley Hawkins; wife, Rachel Hawkins; a son-in-law, Jim Drinkard; a brother, Bill Hawkins; and a sister, Mary Handley.

Pallbearers included KT Cole, Gilbert Sellers, Brad Dunning, Ron Drinkard, Mark Tatom, Benny Pinckard, Scott Hartley, Burt Page, Alan Owen and the Singleton-Hawkins Sunday School class of First Baptist Church of Troy.

Green Hills Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hawkins family.