Ollie Pope Hawthorne

Ollie Mae Pope-Hawthorne affectionately known as “Smock”, was born on November 12, 1940 in Franklin Tennessee to the late Pointer Pope and Mamie Burns. She was the second of five children. Ollie’s family later moved to Thompson Station, Tennessee where she received her elementary education at Mount Laverne grade school and Thompson Station middle school. The family moved to New York during the Great Migration. Through the NYC Department of Education she graduated from Jane Adams Vocational High School.

Ollie graduated top of her class in the Cosmetology field. She was an exceptional cosmetologist. Her clients deemed her a creative artist. She was offered an opportunity to establish her own business in the beauty industry. Ollie turned down that offer and decided to work from home. She wanted to be home to care for her children: Timothy, Randy, Annette, Rodney, Monique, and Tanya. When her children were a little older she went back into the workforce and decided to go into the caregiving field and became a certified caregiver through the Cooperative Home Care Association. Ollie devoted 15 years of service to the company. She wasn’t limited to one profession. She also did display work for The Redbook Company. She created cover spreads and dressed tables for photo lay-outs.

Ollie knew the Lord as a child. In 1975 at True Holiness Pentecostal Church, under the Leadership of Elder Carrington.  Ollie dedicated her life to the Lord. She was called into ministry and accepted the calling as an Evangelist. She was a prayer warrior. She was the spear for many prayer circles. Her mission was to uplift the Lord and bring hope to the hopeless.  

Ollie’s life of service spilled over into her community. She was known as the Community Mother. Her home was a place of refuge. She became a shelter to the homeless and fed many from her kitchen. Many looked to Ollie for her wisdom. Her knowledge and experiences in life helped her to guild, build, strengthen, and encourage so many people. She did this with a smile while giving tough love.

On June 16, 2001, Ollie Mae Pope and John E. Hawthorne were joined in Holy matrimony, becoming a blended family adding bonus children Ronda, Yvonne, Juanita, Marcus, and John Jr., A love that was established through the service of Christ. John was first smitten by her preaching and singing, then his adoration of her devoted service to the Lord. She was married in her season years and sparked hope in a younger generation who had given up on finding love.

She was proceeded in death by her mother, Mamie; father, Pointer; brothers, Charles and Walter; sons, Randy and Marcus.

She leaves to cherish her memories, husband, John; children, Timothy, Annette (Jerome), Rodney (Marcy), Monique, Tanya, Ronda, Yvonne, Juanita, and John Jr. (Tasha); grandchildren, Shaquana, Chanel, Justin, Anthony (Mercedes), Ronald Jr. (Magen), Chatera, Shandia, Rodney Jr., Ana, Kyrra, and  Zillah; great-grandchildren, Amiyah, Ronald Jr., Isaiah, Princeton, Ari, Aniyah, Ky-Asia, Fallon, Ryan, Kareem Jr., AvaLynn, Kori, and Journee; sisters, Quintella (Rufus) and Florence; nieces, Dawn, Katrina (Duane), Rachell (Artie), Derrick, Willie (Tiffany), Eryn, Lolita, Kathy Paulette, Triplett, Kathy, and Damita; along with a host of nieces, nephews, and other relatives; extended family, Douglas, Harold, Maria, Vickey, Nancy J, and Ethel; father of her children, Abraham; special friends, Ernestine and Mary; and her church family and community.

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