Richard Earl Hawkins was born to Charles Hawkins and Ira Jean Hawkins in Sulphur Springs, Texas on August 29, 1962, the oldest of their three sons.

Richard attended Kennedy High School in San Antonio, Texas and graduated in 1981 where he received a college scholarship to play basketball at the University of Dayton. He then enlisted in the United States Army where he remained until 1984.

After leaving the military, Richard joined the field of healthcare as a certified nurse. In this field he used his passion to take care of others who could not take care of themselves as he trained others including his Aunt Terry Hawkins to care for the sick at Methodist Hospital in San Antonio, Texas. He is remembered as a standout high school basketball, baseball and football player, who enjoyed playing as well as watching sports. "Pookie", as he was affectionately known by friends and family members, had a great sense of humor and loved cheering people up when they were down.

Richard is preceded in death by his mother, Ira Jean Hawkins and his younger brother, Edgar Quinton Hawkins. Richard is survived by his father, Bishop Charles Hawkins (Marie), Phoenix, Arizona; his brother Gregory Scott Hawkins, Austin Texas; his brother Alex Hawkins, Phoenix, AZ; his brother Quincy Hawkins, Phoenix, AZ; his sister, April Hawkins, Phoenix, AZ, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, aunts, and uncles.