[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 133 (Friday, August 1, 2025)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E746]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE LIFE AND SERVICE OF JAMES MILTON HAWKINS

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. BENNIE G. THOMPSON

                             of mississippi

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, August 1, 2025

  Mr. THOMPSON of Mississippi. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the 
remarkable life and enduring legacy of Mr. James Milton Hawkins of 
Bolton, Mississippi--a gifted musician, devoted educator, and man of 
deep faith. Mr. Hawkins served his community, his students, and his 
church with unwavering passion and humility for more than four decades.
  Born on August 12, 1950, in Bolton, Mississippi, James was the son of 
Mae Lillie Atkinson Hawkins and Eldridge Hawkins, Sr. He was a 1968 
graduate of Sumner Hill High School and went on to earn both his 
bachelor's and master's degrees in music, with a concentration in voice 
and performance, from Jackson State University. A product of 
Mississippi's rich musical and spiritual traditions, James dedicated 
his life to uplifting others through song, mentorship, and education.
  Mr. Hawkins was best known as the longtime choral director at Jim 
Hill High School in Jackson, where he built one of the most respected 
public school choir programs in the country. Under his leadership, the 
Jim Hill Choir earned national and international acclaim, performing at 
Carnegie Hall, the Mormon Tabernacle, the White House, and 
internationally in Vienna, Italy, Great Britain, and Canada. His 
students sang for presidents, dignitaries, and at major festivals, 
consistently earning top honors and recognition.
  Beyond his classroom, Mr. Hawkins was a devoted church musician at 
Orange Hill and Rose Hill M.B. Churches, where he led choirs and 
inspired generations with his spiritual gifts. He also served as music 
director for the General Missionary Baptist State Convention of 
Mississippi and was a longtime supporter of youth and music ministries 
across the state. In 2023, he founded the Sumner Hill Alumni Choir--one 
of his final gifts to the community he cherished.
  He is remembered lovingly by his devoted wife, Barbara Ann Thurman 
Hawkins; his cherished grandsons, James Hyche and Jason Butler, his 
siblings, extended family, and the countless students, friends, and 
church members whose lives he enriched. His legacy is found in the 
voices he trained, the dreams he nurtured, and the faith he lived 
daily.
  Mr. Speaker, Mr. James Milton Hawkins was a true servant of the 
people--a Mississippi treasure whose influence reached far beyond any 
stage. His life was a symphony of purpose, faith, and excellence. On 
behalf of Mississippi's Second Congressional District, I honor his 
memory and extend my heartfelt condolences to all who loved him.

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