"I would like to ask for forgiveness to everyone that I have hurt in my lifetime."

In Winston-Salem on July 24, 1954, Athelia Hart (Hawkins) was born to Helen Hart and Arthur Stanback. Athelia graduated from Parkland Senior High School in 1974, and then from Winston-Salem Barber School in 1981. She eventually moved to Seattle, WA to start a new life where she met Jonathan Wayne Hawkins. They married on August 26, 1994. The newlyweds purchased a home in Tacoma, WA. where Athelia discovered her green thumb; she enjoyed growing and tending her flowers.

Athelia decided to further her education by attending Evergreen State College in Tacoma, WA where she achieved her Bachelor of Arts Degree in 2004. Among her many professional accomplishments, Athelia became a small business owner - In 2004, she developed Card Creations by Athelia – designing personalized, all-occasion, greeting cards, and announcements. While employed with the US Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, Athelia received numerous awards and certificates of appreciation for her volunteer work and commitment to social justice and equality. In 2002, The National Campaign for Tolerance added Athelia's name to the Wall of Tolerance for helping to lead the way for a more just America.

After a long period of illness, Athelia passed away on Thursday, April 6, 2023, with her loving husband, Wayne by her side. Athelia was a devoted wife, loving sister, loyal friend, and beloved "Aunt Tweetie" to a host of nieces and nephews. Athelia is preceded in death by her parents, Helen Hart and Arthur Stanback, two of her siblings, Brenda Hart, and Evette Hart, her beloved grandmother, Gertrude Johnson, and two cherished mentors, Mrs. Della Alston (Mama Della) and Mrs. Mable Walker.

Athelia is survived by her husband Wayne Hawkins of Tacoma, WA – her sister Diane Oates of Rural Hall, NC, her brother Larry Hart of New York City, her brother Vernon Hart of Candor, NC, and her brothers Dennis Hart and Onzalee Hart, both from Winston-Salem, her nieces Pamela Williams, Monica Hawkins, Lisa Hart, Jonetta Hawkins, all from Winston-Salem, her nieces Varetta Humphrey and Yuneka Lindsay, both of Charlotte, NC, her nephew Lafayette Baucom III of Hopewell, VA, her great niece (and goddaughter) Averi Montgomery of Winston-Salem, her sister-in-law, Lesley Ahmed of Olympia, WA, her brother-in-law, Vernon Hawkins of Lynnwood, WA; important friends - Sigrid Endresen of Seattle, WA, Celeste Mims of Surprise, AZ, Daphne Tucker of Winston-Salem, Robin Dotson of Advance, NC; a host of great nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Hooper Funeral Home.

Interment at Piedmont Memorial Gardens on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at 1:00 p.m.