Willie Mae France Hawkins, 89, of Youngsville and formerly of Roanoke Rapids, passed away peacefully after a lengthy illness on Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at Rex Healthcare in Raleigh.

Willie Mae was born June 30, 1922 to the late Benjamin Harrison France and Ethel Dockery France. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Leonard L. Hawkins, six siblings, several nieces and many friends.

Willie Mae, also known to some as ''Mae'', worked at J. P. Stevens, leaving that employment in 1963 to be a homemaker. She loved life, flowers, hummingbirds, her children, grandchildren, and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Willie Mae will forever be missed and loved.

She is survived by her daughters, Linda Hawkins Smith and her husband, Johnny, of Hampton, VA, Jane Hawkins Williams of Youngsville, and Delores Hawkins Wilder and her husband, Shelton, of Deep Gap, NC; six grandchildren, Mark Smith and his wife, Bonnie, Matthew Smith and his wife, Hannah, Daniel Smith and his wife, Crystal, Bethany Smith McCann and her husband, Tim, Lindsay Barnes, and Emily Wilder Santillo and her husband, Luke; and six great-grandchildren.

Askew Funeral & Cremation Services in Roanoke Rapids is handling the arrangements, where the family will receive friends on Saturday, March 10, from 10:30 a.m. until service time at 11:30 a.m. in the chapel with Rev. Rick Gaskins officiating. She will be laid to rest at Hawkins Chapel Methodist Church beside her loving husband, Leonard L. Hawkins.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Park Baptist Church, 1136 Virginia Ave., Roanoke Rapids, NC 27870.