Barbara Wells Hawkins

“Barbara Wells Hawkins died peacefully on Wednesday February 12, 2025.  Born March 7, 1935, she was christened Barbara Anne Wells and raised by loving parents George and Laura Wells in Toronto, Ontario.  Together with her younger brother Bruce, she was active in Islington United Methodist Church and spent summers on Balsam and Stoney Lakes in eastern Ontario.  Barbara was a proud graduate of Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, where she earned a degree in psychology.  Following graduation in 1956 she married Richard Paul Hawkins from Detroit, Michigan, and moved to Tampa, Florida where they started a family and Richard continued in business.  

The couple raised two children. Scott Gardner was born in 1958 and Susan Elizabeth followed in 1960.  The family was active in the First United Methodist Church of Tampa, where Barbara taught children Sunday school, volunteered in vacation bible school, and became President of the Church’s Women’s Auxiliary.  Barbara later attended the University of South Florida for post graduate education and became a teacher in the Hillsborough County Public School System. Barbara decided to enter the teaching profession when asked to become a substitute teacher during a teachers strike and crossed picket lines to serve in the classroom. 

For over 30 years she taught 4th and 5th grades at Baycrest Elementary School and became Vice President of the Baycrest Elementary School Teachers organization.  The family moved to Lutz in 1969 and enjoyed the opportunity to live on Saddleback Lake.  Barbara and Dick were founding members of VanDyke United Methodist Church and later Keystone Community Church.  Following retirement, Barbara and Dick moved to The Groves in Land O’ Lakes where Barbara remained active in the community and in helping to lead multiple Bible studies and women’s groups.  She was a master teacher, gifted at building sustaining relationships, and widely admired.  

She is survived by Scott (Lisa) and their daughter Allison (Andreas), and Susan (Anthony) and their children Nicole (Hayden), Stephen (Hannah), and Lauren (Jake). Recently, Barbara was pleased to learn that her first great granddaughter would soon be born to Allison.  Barbara passed peacefully with a strong faith and an abiding love for the Lord.

A Celebration of Life ceremony will be held on Saturday,  March 8th at 2:30 p.m. at Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54, Lutz, Florida.  The Ceremony will be followed by a 4:30p.m. Reception at The Groves Clubhouse, 7924 Melogold Circle, Land O’ Lakes, Florida.

In lieu of flowers, thank you for considering a donation to Keystone Community Church in honor of Barbara and Dick Hawkins. keystonecc.org