Mr. Wesley Laourette Hawkins, age 91 of Western Lane, died Friday November 4, 2011 at Cleveland Regional Medical Center in Shelby. Born in New Bedford Massachusetts on March 9, 1920 he was the son of the late Wesley and Eva Faubert Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins was retired from the U.S. Navy where he served during WWII on the USS Delta which was in the harbor where the Japanese surrender was held. Mr. Hawkins taught Sunday School Class at Bethel Baptist Church where he was a member. He also worked in Greensboro as a clerk in the U. S. post office.

Mr. Hawkins is survived by his wife of 63 years, Wilma Martin Hawkins; a daughter, Pam Alexander and husband Robert of Shelby; a brother, Stanley Hawkins of Orlando Florida; three grandchildren, Clint Smith and wife Anna of Greensboro, Kristi VanBuren and husband Mark of Shelby, and Jonathan Smith and wife Kimberly of Thomasville; eight great grandchildren, Andrea, Joshua, Jordan, Emma, Sophie, Ava, Alan and Tiffany VanBuren.

Funeral services will be held at 3:00pm on Sunday November 6, 2011 at Bethel Baptist Church with Dr. Timothy M. Sims officiating. The family will receive friends an hour before the service from 2:00 - 3:00pm in the sanctuary. Burial will be held on Tuesday November 8, 2011 at 11:00am the Veterans Cemetery in Salisbury, NC with full military honors.

Memorials can be made to Bethel Baptist Church, 606 South Dekalb Street, Shelby NC 28150.