Reeves Wilson Hawks

Reeves Wilson Hawks, 81, passed away on September 28, 2025 at Quarryville Presbyterian Retirement Community.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Shirley E. Hawks (2014), with whom he shared 41 years of marriage.

Born in Bel Air, Md., he was the son of the late Leo Wilson Hawks and Thelma Mae Hawks.

Reeves spent most of his school years in Oxford and graduated in 1962. He attended Goldey- Beacom School of Business and spent one rotation in the U.S. Air Force Reserves in Florida.

He worked most of his life at Artesian Water Company in Newark, Del. and he and Shirley also lived in the city. Together they were faithful members of the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Reeves is survived by his sisters, JoAnn Blackburn of Quarryville and Cleo Freese (Glenn) of Willow Street, a brother, Gary Hawks of Asheville, NC, and several nieces and nephews, as well as many great nieces and nephews.

Friends and family may visit from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. on Saturday, October 4 at the Edward L. Collins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. in Oxford. 

Interment will be in Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery in Newark, Del.

Online condolences may be made at www.elcollinsfuneralhome.com.  

Rowland Clegg Gersen

Rowland Clegg Gersen passed away peacefully on September 16, 2025 in Charleston, South Carolina. He was 86 years old. Rowland shared 57 years of marriage with his wife, Andrea Conlon Gersen. 

Rowland is survived by three children, Ted Gersen (Kelly) of Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Joe Gersen (Alicia) of Bethesda, Maryland, and Alison Gersen (Brandon Butler) of Charleston, South Carolina, as well as five grandchildren, Jack, Molly, Teddy, Cora, and Amelia.

Rowland graduated with honors from Kennett High School class of 1957. He played varsity basketball, baseball, and soccer. After high school, Rowland graduated from Lehigh University in 1961. He was drafted into the army and served two years as a member of the Military Police.  Rowland began his career in finance and worked for Price Waterhouse, The Franklin Mint, and later was hired as the 7th employee and Senior Vice President at QVC. During his time in Pennsylvania, you could find Rowland coaching soccer, playing tennis at Kennett Country Club, cheering on his children’s swim teams, or working on the board of directors at the West Chester YMCA. Rowland was a season ticket holder to the Philadelphia Eagles (GO BIRDS!), loved spending time sitting on the dock in Avalon, and he was a master at grilling a perfect steak. Rowland and Andrea built a home on Callawassie Island in Beaufort, South Carolina and later moved to Charleston. Rowland will be remembered for his integrity, leadership, and passion for the people and things that he loved.

Rowland was predeceased by his parents, Rowland Clegg Gersen and Margaret Brinton Gersen, and his sister, Jane Gersen Gilchrist. The family will hold a private celebration of life honoring Rowland in the future. In lieu of flowers, the family asks you to consider making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.