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Paul Thomas Ayers Hawkins

Licensed Funeral Director and Owner

Paul is proud of the fact that he was named after the late Dr. James Ayers, MD, a close family friend. He traces his passion back to when he was 10 years old, and his love of animals of all kinds led him to stage funerals for those creatures who succumbed to incident and accident, in his family’s back yard on Johnson Street, in Clinton. It was there he learned the simple, healing value of ceremony. At the age of 15 Paul started helping at Royal Hall Funeral Home, under the late Romer Hall. His passion for caring for others led him to work on the Clinton Rescue and Fire Department for over 20 years. He’s proud of the fact that in 1992, he was appointed the first full-time paid firefighter in the City of Clinton, under Chief Leonard Edge. Paul is a graduate of Clinton High School, having received his diploma in 1984. Just a year later he started his apprenticeship at Crumpler-Honeycutt Funeral Home under the guidance of the late James Furman Honeycutt, and the late Gene Barefoot. It was later, in 1987 that Paul graduated from the Gupton-Jones College of Funeral Service. The plans to open his own funeral home came through the collaborative dream of Paul. He opened Hope Valley Funeral Service & Cremation on January 19th, 2009. Paul has been a member of Clinton Fire & Rescue for over 20 years giving back to the people of Clinton and Sampson County,Paul was the Co-Founder of Sampson County Fireman's Honor also a Faithful Member of Clinton Family Worship Center under the leadership of Pastor Lynn Blackburn.