Family of the Month – Faith, prayer grounds dual-career family

REGINALD ALCEUS
Outlook Staff Writer

Since December of 1972, James and Judith Hawkins have shared the adventurous experience of a unique, dual-career marriage. Both are strong willed, driven individuals whose distinct accomplishments in their professional fields have earned their names considerable repute. Together, they have not only worked toward the betterment of society but have also strived to be the very model of success and positivity. For their role in setting a high standard for African- American families everywhere, the Hawkins have secured a place as the Capital Outlook’s Family of the Month.

Earnest in her pursuit of education, Judith is a 1973 graduate of Andrews University. She obtained a master’s degree from Ohio State University in 1977 and earned a juris doctorate from Florida State University’s College of Law in 1984. Her husband, James, who also attended Ohio State University where he earned his doctorate, came to Florida A&M University in 1977 as an assistant professor of broadcast journalism. He now serves as FAMU’s Dean of the School of Journalism and Graphic Communications.

James said he developed an affinity for journalism during elementary school when he and his classmates were shown “weekly readers,” and he wanted to write for one. Although he never had the opportunity, his desire would one day inspire his future passion for a journalistic career. Now a Leon County judge, Judith, like her husband, initially wanted to study journalism and to write poems, and write for women’s magazines. At first, Judith majored in home economics and minored in journalism. Once moving to Tallahassee however, her plans changed as she essentially “slipped into law.”

The two first met while attending the parochial school Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala. According to Judith, she first laid eyes on James when he was working in the library of the English department. She knew that he was going to be her husband.

“One of the rewards of teaching is to have the opportunity to work with young people and to help them understand the things that are important to their development,” James said. “I think inherently, the value of teaching is being able to work with young people and see them develop into productive and contributing members of our society.”

“As a lawyer and a judge, I have the opportunity to help people with their legal issues, but it also gives me the opportunity to share with them legal issues and insights and the chance to look at things from a different perspective,” Judith said. “That legal training is very helpful when trying to get people to see more than one solution to a problem so there’ll be a shift in their paradigm, and it’s just very effective for me to be in a position where knowing the law helps me help them.”

Both James and Judith agree that they demonstrate a strong desire to contribute to the community any and every way they can. Some of Judith’s efforts include her twenty years of volunteering in Leon County public schools, for which she was recognized as the Tallahassee Democrat’s 28th Anniversary Volunteer of the Year for Education in 2006. In addition, she was recognized in 2008 as the Outstanding Mentor at Apalachee Elementary School. In March 2003, she took part in the judicial law delegation to South Africa’s People to People Ambassador Program.

James noted his contributions to the community extend to the knowledge, wisdom and encouragement he leaves with the students he encourages every year. The lessons he helps pass down, he said, ultimately carries with them through life to aid them in whatever endeavors they undertake, professionally or otherwise. James revealed his personal passion is to have students always maintain awareness of current events in both the media and the times in general. His concern for the current state of journalism and how his students would fare in the future industry spoke to his sincerity for their well-being.

Judith said as a judge, she had grown more passionate about people thinking more about the decisions they make and the consequences they carry. “For me, when I became a lawyer, I practiced family law and I discovered that understanding the law in combination with the academic overview of family, family systems, family relationships enabled me to help my clients live a little differently than other attorneys who just understood the law,” Judith said. “I was in a position where I could give my clients real advice about life and say things to them that, if they gave any credence to it, would improve not only their lives but the lives of their children as well.”

“Being a dual-career family has unique challenges to it because you‘re constantly having to do the ying-yang of supporting each other and being each other’s cheerleader, recognizing that each person’s profession and career is an integral part of how you see yourself, your own self image and your self-esteem,” Judith said. Judith recalled how she and James were equally invested in the rearing of their son, James, early in their careers.

James, now a law librarian for George Washington University Law School, has two beautiful daughters Keira Noelle and Kyla Christine, making Judith and James proud grandparents. However, Judith contends that he refuses to accept his calling as a natural law professor. Elements such as faith and prayer were something both strongly agreed made up the foundation of their family and contributed to their tight familial bonds.

James said lessons individually taken from both their families have helped them in their professions and formation of their own, happy family. Judith said she follows the life philosophy that “all things do work together for the good of them who do love the Lord. Likewise, James said his own philosophy was inspired by a statement made by former President Jimmy Carter when he was sworn in, where he said “What does the Lord require of me but to do justice and walk humbly.”

Reginald Alceus can be reached at realceus@capitaloutlook.com