Memorial Benches in Honor of John Cody Hawkins

Hi, my name is Katelynn Morrison, and I am fundraising in honor and memory of a beloved friend, John Cody Hawkins. John Cody, or John "Boaty," as us from Long Creek lovingly called him, was 27 years old when he tragically passed away on Saturday, April 13, 2024. John Cody moved to Long Creek, South Carolina, where he became a raft guide on the Chattooga River, and an adored member of the community. John Cody was a self-taught musician, nature lover, and wonderful friend. The loss of John Cody has devastated his mother and father, Monica and Aaron Hawkins, his friends, and the community who was lucky to have known him. John Cody fell in love with Long Creek and its community, and chose to make it his new home. While he was with us, he made everyone smile with his beautiful soul and quick wit. His life, and his love for this area deserved to be remembered. That is why his closest friends and family want to build several benches in John Cody's honor. It is our desire to create benches for those who love and miss John Cody to remember their time with him, as well as for those who didn’t have the privilege of knowing him, to sit and be grateful to be in the beautiful area he loved. With your help, we can create a memorial to honor a great man who had more life to live, and more love to give. Below is poem written by Aaron Hawkins, John Cody's father, in honor of his beloved son.

A Different Man

They knew not my son as did I.

They knew a different man.

My son was closed and distant.

He was far too private to know.

His engaging smile was uncommon,

And his quick wit was slow to show.

He rarely stretched his helping hand.

Similar poles of a magnet we were.

The closer we got, the harder he pushed away.

That I never understood!

I raised a son I never knew,

And then I met his friends.

They introduced me to my son,

But that was four days too late for him.

This man was open and honest.

His steel sharpened others’,

As his wit quickened theirs.

His helping hand was eagerly stretched,

And his magnetism properly poled,

In the four short years he wandered there,

He gathered within his wake

A group of friends to be envied and revered.

If but only he could have foreseen

The assembly at The Tavern that night,

And heard the stories and laughter and seen the tears,

Maybe he could have also seen

That there was no reason for his end to come

Under that tree and at the end of his rope,

For as it is known where he wandered and roamed,

So long as there is breath, there is also hope.

-Aaron Wray Hawkins

If you want to purchase a memorial coin in honor of John Cody, go to https://www.evrmemories.com/john-cody-memorial-coin/ to see the silver coin, and https://www.evrmemories.com/copper-john-cody-memorial-coin/ to see the copper coin. 50 dollars of each silver coin purchase and 15 dollars of each copper coin purchase will go to this go fund me.

Thank you!