Walter Hawkins Walter Hawkins, the Grammy Award-winning gospel singer/composer and pastor of Oakland’s Love Center Church, died July 11th after battling pancreatic cancer. He was 61 years old. Hawkins was born May 18, 1949 in Oakland, CA.

Hawkins started his career in one of his brother's chorales, "The Northern California State Youth Choir" of the Church of God in Christ. Later, he accompanied his brother Edwin and founded The Edwin Hawkins Singers. This collaborative effort produced the hit song Oh Happy Day, which became one of the first gospel songs to cross over onto mainstream music charts.

Hawkins was pastor and founder of the Love Center Church in East Oakland. He was ordained a Bishop in October 1992.

Hawkins is the former husband of gospel great Tramaine Hawkins.After surgery for pancreatic cancer in late 2008, the Hawkins Family (Walter, Edwin, Tramaine, and sister, Lynette) staged a successful, multi-city Hawkins Family reunion concert tour. At the time of his death, Hawkins was planning a new “Love Alive” CD concert recording for this fall.

Hawkins is survived by his two children, Walter “Jamie” and Trystan Hawkins; daughter-in-law, Myiia Hawkins; two grandchildren Jamie-Daniel and Jahve; a host of nieces and nephews; the Love Center Church family and Choir; and his siblings Carol, Feddie, Edwin, Daniel, and Lynette. Funeral arrangements are pending.