Erma Jean Hankins, 78, of Ironton, went home to be with the Lord, Thursday, Dec. 10, 2009, at the Community Hospice Care Center in Ashland, Ky. The Scioto County native was born Nov. 29, 1931, the daughter of the late Curtis and Katherine Miller Whitt. She is survived by her husband, Earl E. Hankins, whom she married Dec. 18, 1948.
Mrs. Hankins attended Ironton City Schools and was a homemaker. She was a member of the Sugar Creek Missionary Baptist Church. She was very good at making her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren feel loved.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Helen Moore, Charlotte Lawson, Eileen Winters, and Louise Willis; and two brothers, Carl Whitt and Curtis Whitt.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Gary and Ruth Ann Hankins and Tim Hankins, all of Ironton;
five grandchildren, Michelle and Sean Pierce, Kyle and Ali Hankins, and Alexa Hankins, all of Ironton, Melissa Hankins of Indianapolis, Ind., and Bridgett Diaz of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; six great grandchildren, Brea Pierce, Bradley Pierce, Karlee Pierce and Ayden Hankins, all of Ironton, Olivia Garrett of Indianapolis, Ind. and Whitney Diaz of Sierra Vista, Ariz.; a sister, Dorothy “Dukie” Pelfrey of Ironton;
several nieces and nephews; and a host of friends.
Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Monday at Phillips Funeral Home with Pastor Mike Long and Evangelist Sean Pierce officiating. Burial will follow at Zoar Cemetery.
Friends may call today from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. Donations may be made to the Community Hospice Care Center, 2330 Pollard Road, Ashland, KY 41101 or the Sugar Creek Christian Academy, 94 Co Rd 44 S,  Ironton, OH 45638.
To offer condolence to the family, please visit www.phillipsfuneralhome.net.