Virginia Covington Hawkins

Virginia Covington Hawkins died peacefully in her home on February 15, 2005. She succumbed to a second stroke at the age of 95. Ginny as she was affectionately known, was born on May 13th, 1909, in McKenzie, Tennessee. She was the only surviving child of Macie Ownby C. and Charles Wall Covington. She attended McKenzie High School, Bethel College, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, as well as the National Academy of Design in NYC. Virginia married E. Meredith Hawkins at the Presbyterian Church in McKenzie on January 16, 1944. Traphagen School of Fashion in NYC was her first professional teaching job. Mrs. Hawkins became the first female faculty member at Hackley School in Tarrytown, NY. There she headed the Art Department for sixteen years. In October 2003, Hackley proudly named her Honorary Alumna. Virginia was a talented portrait artist and also assisted her husband with his commercial art designs. The Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns, The Fortnightly Club, The Historical Societies of the Tarrytown's, Irvington and Westchester County are associations in which she actively participated. Virginia was a Charter Member of the Women in the Arts Association. Virginia is survived by; Willoughby cousins in Paris, Tennessee, McMillan in-laws in Tampa, Florida, Green cousins in Hillsboro, Texas, and Gilman cousins in Richmond, Virginia. Apart from her varied family ties, she will always remain like family to many local friends, and to Marcia Case and her former students Christopher Pierce and Peter Shaw. Her memory leaves us all with great love and inspiration. A Memorial Service will be held at 11:00 AM on March 5th, 2005 at the Reformed Church of the Tarrytowns, 42 N. Broadway, Tarrytown, NY 10591. Her ashes will be Interred at a later date in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, McKenzie, TN. In lieu of flowers, Virginia requested donations be made to either; Plan International foster services 155 Plan Way, Warwick, RI 02886 or to The Elmsford Animal Shelter, PO. Box 131, Elmsford, NY 10523.