Marie (Hawkins) Gregory

A link to access the live stream funeral service will be made available on this page Thursday, July 8th at 10am.

Reflection of Life

Mrs. Marie Gregory was born from the union of Lila Booth and Johnny Hawkins on July 31, 1926, in Oxford, North Carolina. She received her education in the Granville County North Carolina school district.

Marie always had a zest for life, travelling the country in her 20’s with friends and socializing, even earning first place honors in “Lindy Hop” competitions. Her beauty, winning smile and gift for gab was always a showstopper. She owned any room she walked in.

Widowed at an early age with an eight-year-old son to raise, Marie met Navy veteran Moses William Gregory (Greg) at a church service in Oxford (he joked it was her beautiful legs that caught his attention!). They married June 10, 1957, and she and her son Stanley moved to Chicago. Greg and Stanley formed an immediate and lasting “father and son” bond until Stanley’s passing in 1965. Marie never forgot her husband’s devotion to Stanley and returned that affection by serving as Greg’s primary caregiver throughout his illness. They were married over 40 years until his passing in 2002. As a result of their union, Sonya was born.

Marie started her career at Chicago’s Sears, Roebuck and Company, where her gregarious personality served her well beginning on the retail floor and moving to customer service. She eventually moved to the building formerly known as The Sears Tower, where she became a well-known and beloved presence until her retirement in the mid 1990’s.

Marie accepted Christ in her life at an early age, and always knew her strength came from Him. She joined New Alpha Progressive Baptist Church in 1976 and served faithfully in various capacities including the First Aid Board, the Mother’s Board and wherever she was needed. Her spiritual connection to New Alpha never wavered and was one of the most joyful areas of her life.

Fashion conscious and sassy coupled with a wit well that never ran dry, Marie never strayed from her core. The Arden Courts of South Holland Community, Marie’s caretakers, spoke highly of her insistence on wearing her lifelong staples – lots of jewelry that dangles and red lipstick. Yet while fashion and beauty were essential, she never ceased to remind her daughter “Pretty is as does.” It was these and so many other “Missives by Ms. Marie” that Sonya holds dear and will pass to the next generation.

On Saturday June 26, 2021, God quietly welcomed Marie to His kingdom.

She leaves to cherish her memory: daughter Sonya Gregory-Hayes; son-in-law Roosevelt Hayes, Jr.; brother Julius Hawkins; grandchildren Lauren, Nicole, and Jessica; great-grandchildren Aria, Skylar, Scarlet and Anastacia; the Arden Courts of South Holland Community, the Hayes family and a host of other extended family and friends

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