Benjamin Franklin “B.F.” Hawkins, 95, of Columbia, a retired pastor and director of missions and former president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention, died July 4, 2010.
Born in Greenville County, he was a a member of Spring Valley Baptist Church in Columbia. He was a graduate of Furman University with a bachelor of arts degree and Southern Seminary with a master of theology degree. Furman University conferred upon him a doctor of divinity degree in 1983.
Hawkins was ordained into the ministry in 1942 and served as pastor of Park Baptist Church, Rock Hill, from 1944-1958 and Fairview Baptist Church, Greer, from 1958-1967. He was associational superintendent of missions for Greenville Association and director of stewardship development and Cooperative Program promotion for the General Board of the South Carolina Baptist Convention for nine years. After retirement in 1981, he served as interim pastor of Southside Baptist Church, Spartanburg, and director of missions for Palmetto and Reedy River associations.
He served in several places of leadership in the South Carolina Baptist Convention, including president and vice president of the Pastor’s Conference, vice president of the General Board, and president and vice president of the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Hawkins was a trustee at North Greenville College, Connie Maxwell Children’s Home and New Orleans Seminary. He also served as a chaplain to the South Carolina National Guard from 1944-1946 and was a member of the Masonic Order.
Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Virginia Merritt Hawkins, two children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.