Dwayne Hawkins

November 6, 1935 - December 24, 2020

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the passing of Dwayne Hawkins. Mr. Hawkins, founder and CEO of the Crown Automotive Group, passed peacefully on December 24, 2020. He was born in Birmingham, Alabama to Willie and Lucille Hawkins on November 6, 1935. Dwayne attended Tarrant City High School, in Tarrant City, Alabama, and later graduated from Howard College in Birmingham, Alabama. He moved to St Petersburg in 1969 to purchase his first auto dealership, later adding many others under the Crown Automotive name. He was a devoted father, husband and grandfather. Dwayne is survived by brothers, Conrad and Terry; children, Kerry, Kevin, Kenny and Karla Wurr; his grandchildren, Whitney Goodman, Cassidy, Dalton and Noah Wurr. He was predeceased by wives, Peggy Hawkins and Joanne Pheil-Hawkins. Dwayne supported, and served, many charities and boards including: Moffitt Cancer Foundation (Hawkins Stem Cell Endowed Chair), Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Pinellas Education Foundation, Feeding Children Everywhere, Habitat for Humanity, Pediatric Cancer Foundation, Florida Dream Center, Mahaffey Theater, St. Petersburg Museum of Fine Arts, Dali Museum, St Pete Free Clinic, Mt Dora Children’s Home and Starting Right Now. In 2015 Dwayne was voted Florida Time Dealer of the Year and was inducted into the Pinellas Education Foundation Hall of Honor. In 2019 he received the prestigious William S. “Bill” Belcher Award from Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He was recently honored by the Tampa Bay Lightning as a Community Hero and inducted into the Tampa Bay Business Hall of Fame. On Tuesday January 12th, a service and celebration of life will be held at the Pelican Golf Club, 1501 Indian Rocks Road, Belleair, Florida. The service and celebration will include: Reception and Seating 2pm, Funeral Service 3pm, and the Celebration immediately following 3:45pm. In Lieu of flowers, donate to: Mount Dora Children's Home 301 W 13th Avenue, Mount Dora, FL 32757 Phone: (352) 383-9906