GRANDPARENTS

Describe your grandparents. What did you enjoy the most about them?

Because I lived in Brazil for so long, I really did not spend much time with them when I was a child. In fact, my paternal grandfather died when we were in Brazil for our second term (5 year terms) so I was only with him as a baby and just during short visits when I was 5. 

I do know a little more about my maternal grandparents because we lived in Nashville during most furloughs... with exception for the 9 month one in 1969. I remember Grandmother Barker's (bna Mema) made strawberry shortcakes almost every time we visited her. She was also the only grandparent to initiate contacts with me... although they were rare. She sent birthday cards, wrote letters, and phoned me several times after I returned the the USA for college. Mema grew African Violated. I really admired her and should have asked for her to tell me the secret to keeping them alive.

During the 9 months we lived with the Barkers, the only bed open for me what in my elderly grandfather's room. He was restricted to a hospital room so needed someone to care for him 24/7.  My grandfather was a school principal and dairy farmer. I remember times, when he was still active, going to the dairy barn with him to milk the cows. He did have milking machines so it required very little manual labor. 

 Annie Barker

CU and Annie Barker

Although I do not remember much about my Hawkins side of the family, I do have some good memories. I remember Grandmother Georgia's pear preserves. I think the Hawkins side of the family was always closer to each other than the Barkers. I remember reunions at her house always been full of laughter and joy. Although Grandmother Georgia could be very loving and generous, I also remember feeling that she loved and believed her other grandkids more. One time my cousin Tony broke her mirror while throwing a ball in the house, she went to her grave saying it was me. The last time I saw her, she told that story with conviction had I was the guilty party. Of course, Tony's parents built and lived in the house right next to her.

Grandfather Fred's, for lack of a better word, presence. Although he was not as large as my father, it seemed to me that he was a giant. I have few other memories of him. The only other memory I do have is that one time I was stung by multiple wasps and he treated the stings with tobacco he had chude up. 

Fred  Lee Hawkins Sr

Georgia Payne Hawkins

Georgia and Fred Hawkins Sr

CHILDHOOD HOME

Where was your childhood home located? Did you enjoy living there? 

I lived in seven different cities before the age of 18. We lived at most of them for at least 1 year. The only exception was a 6 month furlough in 1970. We lived in two of the cities for eight years. The first of these was Rio de Janeiro. We lived there from the time I was 2 years old until 10 years. The home I remember the most is the 3rd and last Rio home we lived in. The house was very near the Baptist School where I attended kindergarten and elementary school. It was also close to the South Brazil Theological Seminary. The seminary was further up the hill from the house. There was a trail through the woods from near the back wall of the house to the seminary. I do not ever remember seeing anyone on the trail even though I followed it often. I remember that there was a little wooden shack at the side of it. I went into it once and it was empty. It did not occur to me at the time that this fact was very unusual since there were so many homeless people in Rio. I set off to climb to the top of the mountains several times be soon gave up. But since Sumaré Mountain is about 2500 feet high, that is not unexpected. Of course, things have changed drastically since then. The beautiful houses have been replaced by apartment building, the trail replaced by a street. 

The house on the right was ours. The one on the left was the home of the Sutton's. The South Brazil Theological Seminary is seen above the houses. The Combe (VW Bus) was our car.

The boys in the front yard.

Now the family is complete. Not sure where David was.

PRAYER

Did you pray as a young boy? If so, can you remember a specific prayer? Who taught you to pray?

Yes, I did pray. My parents did teach us to pray. Other than the grace and the dinner table, we really did not have a family prayer time. We did know about the "now I lay me down to sleep" prayer and The Lord's Prayer but did not use them with regularity and never as a ritual. We were taught to pray extemporaneously. Most of our prayers were private. However, we did have opportunities to learn public/group praying. Again, the prayers were extemporaneous. Written prayers as well as sermons were frowned upon since we thought they were not from the heart. I have come to appreciate written prayers... at least for public praying.

FAVORITE SPORT

What was your favorite sport or outdoor activity? Why was this your favorite?

This is an easy one: Football (Soccer). Football was a part of my life and both a participant and a viewer from the time I was very young. I usually played in a defensive position... sometimes as keeper. I was never as good as my Brazilian friends but that is to be expected since they practically played it all of their lives. Today, I am only a viewer when I have the opportunities.

Currently, I am an active hiker. I would like to be able to hike songer trains and more often. I did until it got very hot. In addition, my health has deteriorated somewhat. I do belong to two hiking meetups: The Nashville Hiking Meetup and the Tennessee Hiking meetup. I would love to hike the 16 mile long train to and back to Mount LeCount in the GSMNP but I do not now believe that will happen. My hope is to find someone willing to take my ashes there.

MOM'S WORK

Did your mother have a job or did she work at home?

With five children, my mother worked at home. In Brazil, she had help from a maid/nanny. Life in Brazil during that time was not all that easy. Most everything had to be purchased fresh. Even gas for the stove took some planning. It came in big cylinders like the small ones people in the USA use with grills except three times as large. But it took some foresight in order not to run out. 

Mom did have here out-of-home projects. She was more in contact with the local (as in neighbors) than Dad. Dad's missionary work was in an office or on the farm; Mom's was at home and our community. 

Our home was a stopover point for missionaries and other Americans going to the big cities on the East coast or west back to their homes. Mom was always ready to welcome them in for the night. Those were actually some of my favorite times. It was a break in the routine. 

Our church also benefited from Mom's efforts. She was active in many church events as well as playing the piano for the choir and church services. 

DAD'S WORK

Where did your father go to work every day and what did he do? Did his work interest you?

During the time I lived at home, Dad had two jobs. The first job he had was as Director of the Brazilian Baptist Sunday School Board. He had specifically been appointed to fill that position. It was mainly an office job. He did travel a lot throughout all of Brazil. I was not aware for this aspect of his life. I just knew that he was not around much.

At home, Dad had an office and a woodworking shop. In the shop, he made blocks and puzzles for Sunday School. I was involved in those projects. I don't remember being particularly interested but it was something to do with him. I did get more interested in his hobbies than his work.

When I was 10, we moved to Tupã, further into the interior. There Dad was to build a Baptist assembly like Ridgecrest. The farm called Palma was donated by a group of Lets (people from Latvia). We lived in the city; Dad worked on the farm. He usually stayed there from Monday morning until Wednesday afternoon to go to church. He went back on Thursday or Friday depending on how much he needed to do in town. So, again, I was not exposed to his actual work that much. Of course, during the school breaks, I would spend time on the farm but only for a few days.

CHURCH ATTENDANCE

Did you attend church as a young boy? What are your earliest memories of church?

With Dad as a minister, I was at church at least three times a week. I guess I was taken to church for the first  time within a couple of weeks. Since I was born on a Tuesday, it well could be the next Sunday. Until recently, I was at church at least twice a week.

My first memories of church come from when I was 5 or 6 years old. We belonged to Tijuca Baptist Church in Rio de Janeiro. I remember sitting toward the front of the church. For Brazil, the sanctuary was quite large. It was not heated or air conditioned so it could get uncomfortable. Nevertheless, I enjoyed being there.

I remember my mother handing me a Bible during a service at telling me to memories John 3:16... probably the first verse any Baptist memorizes.

Dad with Pastor Osvaldo Ronis, pastor of Tijuca Baptist Church 

CHILD BAPTISM OR DEDICATION

Were you baptised or dedicated as an infant? If so, where and by whom?

Baptist do not believe in child baptism so I was not. Baptists do dedicate babies. However, I am not sure if baby dedication services were done back when I was born. If I was dedicated, it would most likely be done at the church where my father served as Minister of Religious Education, Centerview Baptist Church in Kannapolis, NC.

Mom is the woman on top row, fourth person from the right hand column holding Bill. David might by the boy in yellow short on the first row.

Mom is in this picture as well. She is the 4th person from the right I think holding Bill's hand.

CHILDHOOD HOME

Describe your childhood home. What was your favorite room?

During my childhood (up to 10), I like in four houses in Brazil and maybe the same or more houses in the USA so it is not so easy. The second house we lived in, from 6-10 years old, was my favorite. Located on a quite street in the otherwise busy city of Rio de Janeiro, it was one of two brand new "mission houses." The houses were side-by-side at the bottom of the mountain where the Baptist Seminary was located. At one end of the street was the Baptist School (covering basically K-12). There was no yard to speak of on our lot; the other house did have a nice grassy area in the back. The Suttons lived in the other house. Naturally, we became very close. Their son, JES, was my closest friend.

I am not sure what room was my favorite; I remember so little about the inside. What I do remember is the large rock hill in the back yard. When I say "large" I mean that there was a 30ft high outcrop of limestone in the backyard. It was not a gentle slope but also not impossible to climb. There was just a small patch of dirt between the rock and the house. I tried to garden there. But the dirt layer was just too small for anything to grow.