Claudia Mae Hawkins-Smith

Published 12:01 am Friday, September 30, 2016

May 18, 1955 – Sept. 21, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Claudia Mae Hawkins-Smith, 61, of Chicago, who died Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016, in Chicago, will be 11 a.m. Saturday at George F. West Sr. Memorial Chapel at West Gate Funeral Home with the Rev. Joe W. Pickett officiating.
Burial will follow at Sunset View Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of West Gate Funeral Home.  
Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. today and from 10 a.m. until service time Saturday, both at the funeral home.
Mrs. Smith was born May 18, 1955, in Natchez, the daughter of Melton Hawkins II and Fannie O’Neal Hawkins.
She accepted Christ at an early age and was baptized by the late Rev. L.L. Miller at Zion Hill Baptist Church where she sang in the choir. She was an ordained minister for more than 25 years and a member of the Order of Easter Star. She was employed by Ball Metal for more than 21 years.
Mrs. Smith’s love of life and dedication as a servant for God was reflected in her personality. She was a phenomenal Mae Star, a woman of love, power and hope.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include a loving husband, Prentiss Smith; two sons, Paul Howard and Cleveland Jackson, both of Chicago; six stepchildren, Sean Roberts, Carrie Waterhouse, Andrell Lamar Banks, Lanora Guy, Tanica Goldsmith and Prentiss Cole; eight siblings, Marie Crowder and husband, Sammie, Beverly Woods and husband, Frank, Melton Hawkins III and wife, Jackie, Walter Hawkins and wife, Davine, Mary Richmond and husband, Larry, David Hawkins and wife, Jannice, Linda Dean and Hattie Marvel and husband, Clifton; six grandchildren, Darnell Stark II, Phalerah Howard, Charles Hawkins II, Andrell Banks Jr., Khanye Cole and Anthony Cole; a special aunt, Doretha “mom” Mayberry of Natchez; and a number of other relatives and friends.
Online condolences may be sent to westgatefh.com.