To know Ms. Queenie Hawkins is to love her. She is a Hilltop living legend – and our longtime campus queen – whose compassion has been unmatched during her 43 years at the College.

To most people on campus, Hawkins says, her life outside of campus coffee shop Panther Perk is no surprise.

“You know I love to talk,” she says, “and I lay it all out. It’s just conversations all day long.”

Those who know Hawkins know one of her favorite places is New Hope Baptist Church in the West End, where quite a few students have gone to church with her over the years. They know that when Hawkins isn’t on campus, she loves to walk, and looks closely at all the flowers and plants along her regular walking trails.

They know she likes things that are happy and funny, like her favorite TV shows and movies, including “The Andie Griffith Show,” “Leave it to Beaver,” and anything Tyler Perry. And she’s always laughing, whether it’s with her family around the kitchen table or with students, faculty, and staff on campus.

For Hawkins, the BSC community has the same impact on her personal life that it has on her workday. Family is important to Hawkins, and BSC students become a part of her family, exchanging cards and replacing April Fools’ Day with celebrations for Hawkins’ birthday on April 1.

“I have the chance to meet parents, grandmas, nanas, the whole nine yards,” she says. “I get to see them graduate and then have children, and their children come here.”

Ever since Hawkins was a child, friends and family have always confided in her. She is one of nine children in her family – the oldest girl with five brothers and three sisters – and always knows how to make them laugh. She was the peacemaker between her friends during her school days in Greenville, Alabama, and she can always turn to someone with her wisdom.

She’s been the same welcoming, comforting, and joyful presence in her different roles at BSC – she began working in the cafeteria in 1979, spent 14 or so years in residential quad dining, and now handcrafts caramel macchiatos as the Panther Perk barista. And her positivity extends far outside of class and past graduation.

“They come in and call me their sunshine,” Hawkins says. “People say, ‘Do you always have a good day?’ And I say I try to have a good day no matter what. It doesn’t take much to make me happy — if somebody’s having a bad day, and I can say one sentence to that person that changes their day, then I’m happy.”

This story was published in the Fall/Winter 2021 issue of ’Southern, BSC’s alumni magazine.

If you have ideas for our next issue of ’Southern, please email [email protected]. We always welcome stories about outstanding people from the BSC community.

Hawkins is currently listening to Jekalyn Carr.