Obituary of Nancy May Hawes

Nancy May Roundtree Hawes was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on December 31, 1946, to Emma Roundtree. Nancy grew up in West Philadelphia where she attended West Philadelphia High School and graduated in 1964. Nancy liked hanging out with the older girls across the street growing up, but she spent most of her time outside on the steps. Quiet, classy, and always stylish, she was known as a trendsetter; so as a young woman, she was always setting the tone for new fashions. At the beginning of the computer age, Nancy's first job was at Curtis Publishing company as a keypunch operator. Before personal computers, thousands of lines of information were entered into machines through the process of punching holes and notches on a keypunch card that was then inserted into a data processing machine. Her next job was at the Pennwalt Corporation, in Philadelphia, where she, again, gained additional experience as a keypunch operator. In March 1980, Nancy started at SEPTA as a payroll clerk, and that's where she remained until she retired after 33 years of service. As a young woman, Nancy had an opportunity to take a sewing class which sparked a lifelong interest in fashion and design. She became a tremendous seamstress and could sew anything— curtains, coats, pillows—even, a matching safari set for her and her daughter for a special trip to the zoo. In addition to sewing, Nancy could Dance! She was always the first to know and learn the latest steps. Always very active, she loved to go to concerts, shows, and dance. Nancy also liked to ride bikes. Her daughter, Tanya has vivid memories of riding up Upsal street from Mount Airy to Fifth and Olney so she could swim at the recreation center and then, the two of them would ride the bikes all the way back home again. Nancy and Norman met over forty years ago. They met through a mutual friend and Norman has often said, from the day they met, he knew that she was the one. After previous marriages for both, they made a lifelong commitment to one another. During their four decades together, Nancy and Norman traveled extensively, enjoyed summer festivities in the city, concerts, dining out and trips to the movies. Always together, wherever you saw Nancy, you saw Norman—even their names sang together—Nancy/Norman. Their love was stronger than any bond. After Nancy became ill, Norman retired early to spend more time with her and has never left her side. During these last few years, Nancy's life-partner, Norman Carr has dedicated his life to caring for the woman he loved and, while she might have been afraid that it was too much, until the end he would remind her, "I'm here, Babe…I'm right here. I'm still here." Nancy Hawes made her transition Saturday morning, July 9th at her home in Northeast Philadelphia surrounded by her loving daughter and life partner. Nancy leaves to cherish her memory: a daughter, Tanya Hawes, her life-partner, Norman Carr, brother William Roundtree, sister-in-laws: Cheryl Roundtree, Dr. Kimmika Williams-Witherspoon and Nedra Hawes, brother-in-law Reverend Dontel A. Hawes, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.