It all began when Bessie Rudolph invited me over to her house to photograph some large bananas that her and her husband, Fletcher, had managed to grow in their front yard. The trip took me down the Brown Hawkins Road and into the Lime Hill community, which is just west of Evergreen’s Middleton Airfield. Travelers along U.S. Highway 84 between Evergreen and Monroeville will have noticed an “Historic Marker” sign where Highway 84 and the Brown Hawkins Road intersects. An arrow points the way from 84 to the actual historic marker, which is about a mile down on the Brown Hawkins Road.
Not being visible from Highway 84, I’ve often wondered about what this marker had to say but had just never taken the time to see it in person. My trip to the Rudolph’s house gave me just the excuse I needed, and, after taking a picture of their bananas, I stopped to read the marker on my way back to the office.
Here’s what the marker has to say:
“REVERED HILLARY JAMES HAWKINS, D.D. 1905-1995: Doctor Revered Hillary James Hawkins, who was affectionately known throughout the community as “Brown,” dedicated most of his adult life to providing spiritual guidance to blacks in Evergreen and surrounding communities.
“In 1945, Dr. Hawkins bought a 120-acre farm and started constructing a house for his wife, the former Mamie Calhoun and their eight children. A successful farmer, Dr. Hawkins produced Conecuh County’s first bale of cotton in 1953. In 1959, he was recognized by Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) for his progressive methods in church management and community organization. In 1964, he received his Doctor of Divinity degree from the Inter-Baptist Theological Center in Houston, Texas.
“From 1921 to 1988, Dr. Hawkins served as minister of ten churches in Evergreen and surrounding communities, often serving two churches simultaneously. For 37 years, he served as Dean of Christian Education for the Evergreen District Missionary and Educational Association. In 1971, he was elected president of the Southern Region of the Progressive National Baptist Convention. He also served as director of the Negro Division of the United Fund Drive in Conecuh County. In cooperation with the county extension agent, he helped area black farmers implement advancements in agriculture and achieve homeownership.
“As a tribute to his outstanding service to the community, the Brown Hawkins Road was named in his honor.
“On March 20, 2003, the Alabama Historical Commission added the Rev. Dr. Hillary James Hawkins House to the Alabama Register of Landmarks and Heritage.”
In the end, I enjoyed finally getting the chance to see this historic marker first hand. I regret that I never got to meet Hawkins for he was apparently a one of a kind. How many of you have seen this marker first hand? How many of you remember Hawkins? Let us know in the comments section below.
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