Mr. Vance "Minkey" Carmitchel Hawley

Mr.  Vance Carmitchel “Minkey” Hawley left his earthly home on his final “route” to his Heavenly home on Monday, June 23, 2014 at an early morning hour.  He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, brother, uncle and friend.  He was a Christian mentor to his family as well as to numerous people throughout his life.  The branches of his family tree were full and the leaves represent all of the lives he touched.  

Minkey was born in Victory Mill Village in Fayetteville on Thursday, January 9, 1930.  At the time of his birth, the electric power was controlled by the mill.  It was customary for the mill supervisor to provide power when a birth occurred during the overnight hours.  From birth, Minkey always lit up his corner of the world.   He was the fourth son born to Maurice Sr. and Vennie Seawell Hawley.
At the age of 9, Minkey began selling The Fayetteville Observer.  He would take five or six newspapers down to Funderburke’s Service Station on Gillespie Street to sell.   The only other job he held was in a body shop in 1945 but financially supported several businesses in Fayetteville.  His official career as a newspaper carrier began with delivering the Greensboro Daily News to 27 customers on Massey Hill.  At 19 years old, he was given a contract for his own route with The Fayetteville Observer.  His customer base grew to more than 1000 home deliveries and exceeded 80 single-copy newspaper sales racks.  It took a small army of people and vehicles to make the deliveries.  Over the course of his career, he used 43 cars/station wagons and 6 pickup trucks.  He employed family, extended family, possible suitors for his daughters, and others.  Three of the young men that “passed the test” became Minkey’s sons-in-law.  Even his older grandchildren helped him “roll” and deliver newspapers.  The younger grandchildren enjoyed helping him with yard work.

Minkey served in the Naval Reserves, the Army Reserves and the NC National Guard.  While serving as a cook in the Guard, he obtained his “cooking for a crowd” experience.  He also formed a life-long friendship with Terry Sanford, a former Governor and US Senator for North Carolina.  The United Daughters of the Confederacy awarded him a National Defense Medal for his service.
Minkey was married to Joyce Smith on May 18, 1952 and enjoyed 62 years of marriage.  They were an inseparable couple along the road of life.  Their marriage was based on biblical principles and Christian values.  His legacy to his children is to live by these ideals.  One of their favorite pastimes was traveling together.  They were fortunate to be able to visit all 50 states, Canada, Italy, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.  They traveled by car, boat, plane, and RV.  Minkey was a skilled chauffeur, driving his in-laws, family, and church friends on numerous adventures.
As an active member of Village Baptist Church, he served as a deacon, sang in the choir, assisted with mission projects and participated with the handyman ministry.  Throughout his adult life he served the church and worked tirelessly on building projects, served on committees, was the chairman of deacons, acted as a business manager, cooked and served food to the congregation for various events and ministered in many other ways.  Although he never went on a mission trip, he supported mission efforts both here and abroad.  He transported camping trailers to hurricane victims in Louisiana and helped serve Thanksgiving dinner to those same victims.   He furthered the Kingdom of Heaven here on Earth by serving the church and his neighbors in a humble way and with a servant’s heart.  He lived his life so that those who knew him and didn’t know God would come to know God because they knew Minkey.  

Minkey is survived by his wife Joyce; daughter, Belva H. DeMendoza of Fayetteville; daughter, Mendee H. Daniel and husband Gerald of Fayetteville; daughter, Sonda H. Shank and husband Ron of Fayetteville.  There are seven grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; Adam Whitaker (Brittni), Gerald Daniel II (Bonnie), Meagan Whitaker (David Wilson), Jennifer Barclay (MacLean), Sloane Shank, Sydney Shank, Tucker Shank, and Sophia Whitaker.  Minkey is also survived by his sister Margaret “Boggy” H. Bucy, his brother William R. “Bobby” Hawley and many beloved sisters- in- law, nieces, and nephews.   He was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers Marvin, Maurice Jr., Norman, his sister Myrtle H. Cashwell and his son-in-law Kriss R. DeMendoza.

A visitation with the family will take place Friday, June 27 from 12:30-1:45 at Village Baptist Church, 906 S. McPherson Church Rd. in Fayetteville.  The Celebration of Life service will be at 2:00.  Visitation will continue following the service at the church until 4:30.  

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to:  Village Baptist Church Building or Missions Fund, 906 S. McPherson Church Rd., Fayetteville, NC, 28303; First Baptist Church, Piano Fund, 201 Anderson St., Fayetteville, NC, 28301; Youth for Christ, P.O. Box 35102, Fayetteville, NC, 28303; or Operation Inasmuch, 531 Hillsboro St., Fayetteville, NC, 28301.

The family wishes to express their thanks to Home Instead Senior Care for their many compassionate caregivers.  Your spiritual encouragement to Minkey and the family was uplifting.  

Because of the excellent care you gave, we were able to keep our loved one at home until his death.  The family also wishes to thank our friends and church families for the many cards, visits, prayers and support throughout the past year after he was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) disease.
“Joshua 24:15”

Services are entrusted to Sullivan’s Highland Funeral Service & Crematory of Fayetteville.