“Bishop Hawkins and the Hawkins family, was our inspiration,” Winans said at the funeral, according to Oakland’s KTVU News. “My entire family, the Winans’, we wanted to be the Hawkins.

Walter Hawkins, a Grammy-winning gospel composer ... The cause was pancreatic cancer, said Bill Carpenter, a spokesman for the Hawkins family. Mr. Hawkins and his brother Edwin were self-taught ...

OAKLAND — Oakland native Walter Hawkins ... family to record “Special Gift.” Three years later, he co-produced the Grammy award-winning album “Tramaine Live” for his ex-wife, Tramaine ...