Rethes Hawkins Obituary | Obituary - Seattle WA Cremations and Funerals

Rethes Hawkins, age 80, of Seattle, Washington died July 19, 2016 at Swedish Hospital, Cherry Hill, surrounded by family after living many years with CHF. Her earthly heart had reached its end. Before she departed this world, she said: "Only God will take my last breath and my last heartbeat." She was born February 25, 1936 in Atlanta, GA to John Louis Humburgs of the West Indies and Catherine Margaret Linder of Atlanta, GA, both whom preceded her in death. As a child her family traveled around the world performing in Black Variety Shows consisting of musicians, singers, dancers and actors. In 1943 her father relocated the family to Port Townsend, WA for steady work. A few years later they moved to Bremerton, WA where her father built their home with his own hands. She and her 5 siblings truly enjoyed their childhood in Bremerton. When her father passed in 1949 they continued to live there until her mother remarried Mildred Herbert Phillips (preceded her in death) and moved the family to Seattle, WA. She attended Garfield High School and received her AA from Seattle Central Community College. Having had numerous jobs as a young adult before settling into Social Work for DSHS, her favorite jobs, besides raising us, were teaching Negro History (that's what it was called "Back in the Day") and Art through CAMP(Central Area Motivation Program) and SOIC (Seattle Opportunities Industrialization Center) in the Seattle Public School system. From the mid 70's until a health related early retirement in 1984 she moved up in rank in the Department of Social and Health Services to Social Worker, Case Level 3. Not only did she devote herself to her 9 children, but also to the wellbeing of the clients in her Case load for the DSHS....And because of her generous and caring nature she adopted three teens who were in need of a mother who could love them unconditionally. She did that and more, and as she would always say; "The greatest gift I can give you and you can give to me and others, is Love." And she loved us all, the good, the bad and the ugly, beyond measure.
In her wonderfully full 80 years Rethes touched and enriched many lives with her open heart and compassionate spirit. She was an Activist during the Civil Rights Movement all throughout the 1960's and 70's and beyond, working hard to change the Social Inequality and Racial Segregation in the Stores, Housing and Schools of Seattle. She attended Nonviolent Marches, Boycotts and Protest with CORE and the NAACP. In fact, we were some of the first children to integrate Seattle's Public School System. Sometimes she was told she wasn't black enough, too light, being Multi-Racial, to represent black people, she ignored these comments being self-assured and oh so proud to shout; "Say it Loud! I'm Black and I'm Proud!" At only 5'3" she was one mighty strong woman!
When she wanted to relax, as a self-taught artist, she loved to Draw and Paint. She also enjoyed Reading(especially rereading the Bible), Sudoku, Word Find Puzzles, Watching TV, and most of all, Telling Family Stories.
No matter what she was doing, "Family" was number one. She enjoyed every moment she could spend with family, especially her Grandchildren, Great Grandchildren and Great Great Grandchild. And above all that, she was the Devoted Matriarch of, not just our family, but our extended family too, always there to help in whatever way she could! She was a very special lady, she loved and was loved by everyone who knew and met her. She will be Dearly Missed, Forever Loved and Fondly Remembered.
Her Physical Heart may have reached its end, but her Spiritual Heart is Indomitable!
She was the Loving mother of Victoria Webster, Marcus Hawkins, Regina Hawkins-Balducci(Millie), Michelle Hawkins(RIP), Xavier Jorgenson, Artez Ford(Lorrie), Ethan Ridings, Elba Maldonado, KyVail Davis(Angela), Elizabeth Davis, Elsie Hollis(Terry) and Evancia Davis.
Cherished sister of Blasttner(Tina) Ray(Humburgs), Gene Vee Phillips, Vermont Phillips, Larrien Phillips, Everett Phillips, Linda Phillips, and the late John Humburgs Jr(Anita), Hudson Humburgs, Breamdons(Brandon)Humburgs, and Marguerite(Blondie)Wiemerslage(Humburgs).
Wonderful Grandmother of Alvin Dedrick, Tartisha Slack(Sean), Vicki Watson, De'Ohmdrey Domineck(RIP), Constance Ford, Mindy Alcobendas, Eurecia Matthews(Anthony), Cara Jean Ford, Cynthia Ford, Migail Tobin(Helena), Jovan Smith, Dovan Eisemann(Shaylin Graham), LaMeinna Tobin, Silverstein Davis, Taneshia Eisemann, LeAsia Johnson, Cara Hallam, Alyssa Streets, LeCarrie Gary, London Davis(Alexis), Karisma Solis, Terry Hollis Jr, Dominique Withers, Tiona Hollis, Thandiwe Davis, Letron Ridings, Temetrius Hollis, Eric Butler, Khai Morphis, Artina Ford, Ryan Gomez, TeVona Hollis, AliYah Morphis, Pablo Eisemann and Anitra Ford. Glorious Great Grandmother of 36 and Great Great Grandmother of 1....A Dear Aunt to over 75 nieces and nephews, grandnieces and grandnephews, great grandnieces and great grandnephews, and a Beloved cousin to a host of cousins all over the world......