Rev. George Edward Hankins

BAPTIST VALLEY, Va. – The Rev. George Edward (Ed) Hankins, age 82, passed away Monday, July 16, 2007, at his home surrounded by his family.
Born July 16, 1925, in Tazewell County, he was the son of the late James B. (J.B.) and Eliza Ann Beavers Hankins of McGuire Valley, Va.
Mr. Hankins was a member and past master of the Cedar Bluff Masonic Lodge No. 260, where he served as chaplain since 1971. He was a 32nd degree Mason. He was also a member of the Scottish Rite, Kazim Shrine Temple at Roanoke and served in 1991 as District Deputy Grand Master for the 45th Masonic district.
He was a building contractor for over 20 years and was a retired Tazewell County school teacher at the Tazewell County Vocational School. He was a retired Freewill Baptist minister, where he pastored Yost Chapel Freewill Baptist Church in Baptist Valley for over 15 years and ministered to many during his lifetime. He was an avid fisherman and member of the Tazewell County Sportsman's Club.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife, Mary Ellen Martin Hankins; brothers, Reese Hankins, Homer Hankins, Fred Hankins and John Hankins; and sisters, Aulena Stafford and Ocie Price.
Survivors include sons, Michael Hankins and wife Cheryl of Thompson Valley, Wayne Hankins and wife Teresa of Cedar Bluff and Daniel Hankins of McGuire Valley; daughter, Jane Hankins Matney of Tazewell; one sister, Lula Mae Waddell of Tazewell; grandchildren, Aaron Brown, Ryan Hankins, Joshua Hankins, Ashley Hankins, Megan Matney and Mary Ann Matney; stepgrandchildren, Amanda Puckett, Krista Masingo and Wendy Woodard; many nieces and nephews; and a special niece, Frances Coleman.
Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 19, 2007, at Singleton Funeral Service Chapel at Cedar Bluff, with the Rev. Chuck Patterson, the Rev. Ralph Bostic and the Rev. Max Linkous officiating. Burial will follow in the Greenhills Memory Gardens at Claypool Hill. Grandsons and nephews will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Wednesday at Singleton Funeral Service at Cedar Bluff. Masonic rites will be conducted at 7 p.m. by Cedar Bluff Masonic Lodge No. 260.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by going to www.singletonduneralservice.com.
Singleton Funeral Service is serving the Hankins family.