Beatrice "Hope" Hawkins

Beatrice “Hope” Hawkins was born to the late Kenneth & Alma Link Shutts in Parkersburg, WV on March 25, 1943. She went to be with her Heavenly Father on Sunday, November 23, 2025.

Hope grew up in Parkersburg and graduated from Parkersburg South High School. She continued her education at Ohio Valley Christian College in Parkersburg where she met her husband of 57 years Glenn Edwin Hawkins. They both graduated from Harding University in Searcy, AR in the spring of 1965 and were married in June of that year. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Early Education.

Hope began her lifelong career as an early education teacher and administrator in Missouri and continued teaching at a variety of schools in Tennessee and Ohio. After moving to Massillon, OH in the spring of 1975, she served as a substitute teacher in the Massillon public school system until teaching full time at Stark County Christian Academy starting in 1982. She eventually became the school’s full-time administrator until she retired in 1998.

Upon retiring from teaching, Hope served as a case worker at West Stark County Services in Massillon assisting people throughout the community. She retired in 2013.

Hope’s husband Glenn served as the minister for the Massillon Church of Christ for 47 years. She was a proud preacher’s wife who taught 1st & 2nd grade Sunday School throughout her life. She also helped coordinate the church’s annual Women’s Day, served as a guest speaker at numerous events throughout the region, was an active member of Stepping Stones (Ohio Valley Christian College fund raising team), active member of the Jolly Seniors church group, and served on several charity boards during her time at West Stark Services.

She was the BEST mother any child could ever hope to have who was always there for her two sons. Hope was delighted and proud when she gained her daughter-in-law and was over the moon when her one and only granddaughter was born. She was the oldest of three sisters and loved spending time with them and their families. Hope was an aunt to numerous nieces and nephews and a friend to anyone who met her.

Hope is survived by her son Kenny, daughter-in-law Susan and her beloved granddaughter Addison of Canton, GA; son Adam of Massillon; sister Melva Farris of Parkersburg; sister-in-law Janice Bell of White Lake, MI; brother-in-law Ronnie Hughes of Waverly, TN; nephews Mark Bell, Ronald Hughes, and Ryan Hughes and nieces Alma Barnes and Melinda Rader.

In addition to her parents, Hope was proceeded in death by her husband Glenn, sister Judy Shutts Hughes, nephew Daniel Bell, brother-in-law Glenn Bell, and brother-in-law Gary Farris.

The family will receive friends and family on Friday, December 12th at the Massillon Church of Christ from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm located at 915 State Avenue NE in Massillon. A celebration of life will be held at the Massillon Church of Christ on Saturday, December 13th starting at 11:00 am.

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Warren Christian Apologetics Center located at 850 Altman Avenue, Parkersburg, WV 26104. Website: WarrenApologetics.org

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