Former Gleaner company secretary dies

When Keith Hawkins thinks of his father, genuine, meticulous, prompt and hardworking are the words that come to mind.

Franklin Hawkins, a former company secretary at The Gleaner, passed away yesterday morning at age 87. He had been hospitalised since January 25.

"The immediate family knew he was suffering and it would only be a matter of time, so we were mentally aware of what could happen," Keith noted.

During his 41-year tenure at The Gleaner, Hawkins served the company in several capacities, moving from accounts clerk to secretary of the Provident Society to senior accounting clerk, to chief cashier, then accountant and finally company secretary, before retiring in 1995.

As part of his contribution to the The Story of The Gleaner - Memoirs and Reminiscences (2000), Hawkins had said: "I retired from the company in September 1995 after 41 years of continuous service. For me, it was a period of growth and fulfilment. I say, unreservedly, that I enjoyed the time spent at the company, which afforded me progress in life and contacts with some very important people in the society. I think the playwright summed it up for me with the following words: 'There were sermons in stones, books in the running brooks and good in everything.' I would not change it."

In addition to Keith, Hawkins leaves behind daughter Rosemary and two grandchildren.