Sarah Jane Hawkins, age 87, of Ellenboro, NC, passed away Friday, May 14, 2021 at her daughter's residence in Shelby, NC.

Sarah was born Thursday, August 10, 1933 in Rutherford County to the late Thurman Whitaker and Mattie Greene Whitaker. She worked for Roses Department Store for thirty-eight years and most recently as the Operations Manager before retirement. Sarah was a lifetime and active member of Race Path Baptist Church. She was a faithful member of the church choir and loved her church family. She was a volunteer for the Gideons International Ministry and enjoyed flower gardening and especially loved spending time with her grandchildren.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Lee Hawkins; her daughter, Wanda Lee Hawkins Huber; ten brothers and two sisters.

Those left to cherish her memory include her daughters, Sandra Curtis (Jim) of Millersville, Maryland and Linda Fortner (Henry) of Shelby, NC; a sister, Alice Matthews (Larry) of Acworth, Georgia; four grandchildren, Andrea Shepherd, Benjamin Huber (Nisha), Brooke Workman (Brandon), McKenzie Fortner; seven great-grandchildren, Alexander Kimbrell, Jackson Kimbrell, Grayson Kimbrell, Hailey Huber, Titus Huber, Briggs Workman, Bennett Workman and a host of nieces and nephews.

The funeral service will be conducted at 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 18, 2021 at Race Path Baptist Church with Reverend Randall Cooper and Reverend John Bridges officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 pm on Monday at the funeral home.

Memorial donations are requested to Hospice of the Carolina Foothills, P.O. Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043.

Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services has been entrusted with arrangements.

An online guest registry is available at www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com