Clifford Dwight Hawks

Late on the afternoon of Monday, May 5, 2025, Clifford Dwight Hawks of Humboldt passed peacefully with his sons Cliff and Tyler by his side.

Dwight, as he was known to his friends and family, was born on May 27, 1939 to the late Albert Leon Hawks and Martha Lorene Hawks, and was the brother of the late Ronald Duke Hawks. He went to school at Humboldt High School and graduated in the class of 1957. He enrolled in Union University with plans to attend law school after earning his undergraduate degree. Dwight earned a J.D. in 1966 from the University of Memphis Cecil C. Humphreys School of Law in Memphis. He was a member of the Gibson County and Tennessee Bar Associations and Master of the Bench member of the Lowell Edmunds Jackson American Inn of Courts, as well as a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. He also served on the staff of the Memphis State Law Review from 1965 to 1966.

He was admitted to the Tennessee Bar in and became barred in the Tennessee State Court in 1966 and in the Federal Courts of the United States in 1990, allowing him to represent clients at both the state and federal levels. He served as city judge for Humboldt from 1974 to 1984 and as city attorney for Humboldt from 1994 to 2014.Dwight described himself as a “country lawyer” with the goal of helping individuals, families, businesses, and organizations with their various legal needs.

Dwight was active in community affairs and grateful for his many friendships in Humboldt and throughout West Tennessee. He served on several boards including the Board of Peoples Bank, Humboldt Utilities, and Cedar Crest Hospital. Dwight also served as President of the 1969 West Tennessee Strawberry Festival and co-chair of the West Tennessee Strawberry Festival’s Governor’s Luncheon Committee for 16 years.  He was the 1994 West Tennessee Strawberry Festival honoree. Dwight was dedicated to his church, The Church at Sugar Creek, where he attended regularly and taught a Sunday School class for many years. 

Dwight is survived by his two sons, Clifford Dwight Hawks Jr. (Jacqueline) of Knoxville, Tenn. and George Tyler Hawks of Humboldt. 

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at The Church at Sugar Creek. Visitation was held from 12:00 p.m. until 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 10 at The Church at Sugar Creek. A private committal service was held following the funeral service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Church at Sugar Creek, 3400 East Mitchell St., in Humboldt.