Lee Hawkins' Obituary
Lee Anna Hawkins, 80, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, January 4, 2026, in a local healthcare facility. She was born in 1945 to James Catchings, Sr. and Anna Lee Holland in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The second oldest of six children, Lee Anna was shaped early by family, faith, and community. She attended Howard High School, graduating in the Class of 1963, and maintained lifelong connections with her classmates. While living in Chattanooga, she welcomed her firstborn son, Antonio, and her second child, Annette.
Drawn by opportunity and possibility, Lee Anna moved to California as a young woman. She settled in Palo Alto, California, where life continued to unfold with both challenges and promises. While in Palo Alto, Lee Anna met William Stephens, and together, they welcomed her third child, Stefanie, and they moved to Washington State.
A few years later, Lee Anna felt called to return to California with her children. Back in Palo Alto, she built a stable and meaningful life for her family while working at the Veterans Administration Hospital, first as a nursing assistant and later as an administrative medical clerk. Her work reflected who she was – caring, dependable, and committed to serving others.
During this season of her life, Lee Anna met Robert Hawkins. They married and moved to San Jose, California, in 1971, where they purchased a home and raised their family. In 1974, Lee Anna welcomed her youngest child, Leha, completing the circle of her greatest joy – her children. Lee Anna and Robert spent twenty-five years together in San Jose, building a life together. Faith and trust in God were central to her life, and she became a devoted member of First AME Zion Church, where she served faithfully as an usher and a member of the Trustee Board, always giving generously of her time and spirit. While living in San Jose, she made a host of friends who became part of her extended family.
In 1989, Lee Anna retired from the VA after years of dedicated service. Over the next several years, she worked part-time while continuing to pour herself into family, church, and community. In 1996, following her divorce from Robert, Lee Anna felt called to return home to Chattanooga, where her roots ran deep.
She was welcomed home with open arms by family and lifelong friends. As always, Lee Anna quickly became active in the community she loved. She remained deeply engaged with her Howard High School Class of 1963, serving faithfully on the reunion committee. She also found a spiritual home at Saint Mary CME Church, where she sang in the choir, served as choir treasurer, and was president of the Stewardess Board.
True to her commitment to service, Lee Anna joined Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Inc., Gamma Theta Chapter as a Philo. She was consistently of service to others by participating in numerous community service projects and as Financial Secretary. Giving back was not something she did occasionally, it was simply who she was.
Lee Anna was a beacon of care and compassion. She never hesitated to help someone in need. Within her family, she was a natural caregiver – opening her home to those who needed refuge, offering comfort, and tenderly caring for loved ones during their final days.
She was a fun-loving mother of four and a devoted grandmother of four, known affectionately as Nana Lee by her grandchildren. She was incredibly proud of each of them and loved taking part in their special moments, whether near or far. Beyond her immediate family, she welcomed countless others into her heart, claiming them as her children and grandchildren. Lee Anna’s heart was wide, generous, and full. She gave the best bear hugs – always a joyous, warm and memorable embrace. Even if you met her only once, you felt her warmth, kindness, openness, and unmistakable sense of humor. She brought beauty into the world simply by being herself.
Lee Anna was preceded in death by her daughter, Annette Catchings; brother, James Catchings; and sisters, Willie Mae Powe and Ernestine Seay.
Lee Anna will be deeply missed by her children: son, Antonio High and Maricela Baron High (Santa Clara, CA); daughter, Stefanie Smith and Ronald Smith (Cypress, TX); and daughter, Dr. Leha Anaya Hawkins (Sacramento, CA). She is also lovingly remembered by her grandchildren: Miles Nehemiah Robert Ollison, Malaya Symone Ollison, Dmitri Antonio High, and Camille Noelle Ollison.
She is survived by her brother, Robert Catchings; sister, Jannette Richie; niece, Tracy Catchings; nephews, Rodney Peterson and Ronald Wigfall; nieces, LaTanya Alverson and Robiyauna Catchings; and a host of grandnieces, grandnephews, and great-grandnieces and great-grandnephews.
Lee Anna will lie-in-state on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at 11 a.m. at Taylor Funeral Home. Funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. in the Chapel with Reverend David Young as the Eulogist.
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