Hawthorne Jerome Gillis was born February 15, 1956 to the late Richard and Bishop Helen O. Gillis. He transitioned from this earthly life on January 28, 2026 at his residence in Bayview, Virginia. surrounded with love from family and friends.

Hawthorne, affectionately known as “Hidy” spent his childhood years on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. He was educated in the Northampton County Public school system where he ultimately obtained his GED. He furthered his education at The Eastern Shore Community College and in 1997 received his Career Studies Certification in Welding.

After brief employments with Perdue Poultry, Accomack, Virginia, and as a sanitation worker in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and a construction worker in Baltimore, Maryland, Hawthorne returned home where he became the “man of the family” following the homegoing of his father in 1993. A “jack of all trades” he was soon hired as a maintenance supervisor at Cherrystone Campground, Cheriton, Virginia. There he was nicknamed “MacGyver” as he could repair almost anything using basic, everyday items that were readily available. He remained in their employment until his health begin to fail in 2017.

Hawthorne enjoyed spending quality time with his grandchildren, King and Kobe and they equally enjoyed spending time with him. He also enjoyed watching TV court shows and auction shows such as Storage Wars. Gifted with his hands Hawthorne was very creative in wood crafting small artifacts and loved to share his handiwork with others.

Hawthorne was truly a man of faith and became a member of Resurrection Church of Deliverance, Eastville Virginia in 2019 where he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior. He was formally united in holy, matrimonial commitment to his life partner, Sandra Benton on January 24, 2026.

Hawthorne was predeceased in death by his parents, Richard and Bishop Helen O. Gillis and his son, Quintae Ryshe Gillis. He leaves to cherish his memory his beloved, Sandra Benton; daughters Brittany Gillis and Erica Wiggins; grandchildren, his heartbeats and their “Pop-Pop”, Kingston and Kobe Carpenter, Damani Johnson, Milo Gillis; siblings Senora (Cornell) Ruffin, Phyllis Gillis, Leon (Yvette) Gillis, Violet (Ronald) Fisher, Richard (Georgia) Gillis, Debbie Gillis and Yvette Gillis; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family and friends; his bonus family: God’s gifts-TaKesha Benton, Jabria Galloway, Jalil Galloway and the entire Benton family.