Masinah Smith Hawkins of Decatur, Alabama passed away Tuesday, January 24, 2023. She was born on November 6, 1925 in Morgan County, Alabama to Emma Means Smith and Marion Hickman Smith. For the last six months, she has lived in Lakeview Estates in Hoover, Alabama and at The Terraces of Priceville, Alabama for the seven years prior. Masinah lived in the Edgewood section of Homewood, Alabama for 36 years and was a charter member of Riverchase Community Church and lifelong member of the Church of God, Anderson, Indiana.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ross Avery Hawkins; her brothers and sisters, B. R. Smith of Huntsville, Alabama, Howard Smith of Decatur, Doyce Smith of Decatur, and Elizabeth Hayes of Danville, Alabama. Survivors include Masinah’s son and two daughters, Jack Standridge (Terry) of Birmingham, Alabama, Karen Standridge Taylor (Charles) of Decatur, and Lisa Hawkins Thomas (John) of Woodstock, Georgia; two grandchildren, Brian Taylor (Alice) of Decatur and Mark Taylor (Staci) of Roswell, Georgia; four great-grandchildren of Decatur, Chase, Carson, Adam, and Kaitlyn; one sister, Peggy Vinson of Florence, Alabama; and one step-daughter, Charmin Whitsett of Decatur, and her family Scott, Billy, Michael, and Jesse.
Masinah was an honor graduate of the Austinville High School 1944 class. During her long career of 35 years with the telephone company and retiring from South Central Bell in 1985, she became the first female construction supervisor in the State of Alabama. She was active in the Telephone Pioneers of America and much of her spare time was devoted to church and civic volunteer work.
In her younger days, she was well known in North Alabama for quartet singing at all the great gospel camp meetings and remained a member of church choir for most of her life.
The family will greet friends from 1-2 p.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2023 at Ridout’s Southern Heritage Funeral Home in Pelham, Alabama, immediately followed by A Service of Remembrance at 2 p.m. at the funeral home. Burial will be at Southern Heritage Cemetery, Pelham.
In lieu of flowers, Masinah’s wishes were that any memorials be made to Riverchase Community Church, 2053 Old Montgomery Highway, Birmingham, AL 35244.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.SouthernHeritageFunerals.com for Masinah’s family.
