Lily May Hawks

Funeral Services for Lily May Hawks, age 89 of Cookeville, will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, November 5, 2010 at the Chapel of Dyer Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 4p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, November 4, 2010. Burial will be in the Double Springs Cemetery. Mrs. Hawks died Tuesday November 2, 2010 at NHC of Cookeville. She was born June 16, 1921 to the late Lee Gibson and Della Dyer Gibson in Putnam County Tennessee. Lily May Hawks was known on the Grand Ole Opry for many years as “Little Miss Martha White.” She began her music career at WHUB in Cookeville and was discovered by Little Jimmy Dickens. She had her own radio show on WJR in Michigan for several years, and is a member of the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame. Lily May was an active member of the Church of Christ. She was a member of the Willow Avenue Church of Christ and was instrumental in helping establish two churches in the Detriot Area. The greatest loves in her life were her family and God. Mrs. Hawks is survived by her Daughter Joy Carter and husband David of Cookeville, Granddaughters—Elizabeth Carter, Katherine Carter and Emily Carter all of Cookeville. She is also survived by 2 special nieces—Pat Dyer Grimes of Cookeville and Sonia Pippin Gresham of Rochester, Michigan as well as 3 nephews—Gary Birdwell of Troy, Michigan; David Birdwell of Tybee Island, Georgia and Milton Gibson of Salt Lake City, Utah plus a niece Louise Gibson Graham of Sparta. She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Robert Hawks; her sisters Leona Gibson, Milbra Dyer and Anna Myrtle Birdwell Maybrey and 2 brothers John and Houston Gibson. Brothers John Whitson and Mike Webb will officiate the service.