Susie Hawkins Pickens was my Paternal Great-Grandmother, of the Cherokee Nation, born in Huntsville, Madison, Arkansas to Robert Hawkins and Mary Eliza Carlton in April 1889.

She is noted in the Garvin County, OK 12th Federal Census Indian Territory, Chickasaw Nation as a baby living with her parents and siblings.

She would marry 22 y/o Walter Levi Pickens in Brady, Indian Territory, Southern District,OK at the age of 14 according to their marriage record. (There was actually a nine year difference in their ages according to the dates on their headstone). They were married until Walter's death in 1946, noted living mainly in Garvin County during their lives together. They had several children who remained in the Garvin area after their own marriages and are buried alongside or near their parents.

Earl Abner (1903),Minerva (1905), Roy Wilson (1909), Alice May (1911), Mildred (1915), Calvin Lacy (1916), Delbert Nile (1918), Lloyd L.(1921), Louise L.(1923), Unav (1925) Reaford "Dude" (1927) and Neva (1931).

At the time of death, Susie was residing at 516 H, Lawton, OK after marrying a Robert Fuller, note the surname of 'Fuller' on her death certificate from OK # 008159 issued 5/31/1966. My mother recalls Susie living with my parents Grant & Joyce Pickens and my siblings while in Lawton.

***Susie's father, Robert Hawkins is noted in the Dawes Indian Rolls as a member of the Choctaw Indian Tribe.

Photo courtesy of Neva Pickens Landers, Lawton, OK.

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Robert M Hawkins in the 1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Robert M Hawkins
Age: 40
Birth Date: abt 1860
Birthplace: Alabama
Home in 1900: Township 2, Chickasaw Nation, Indian Territory
House Number: 9
Sheet Number: 16
Number of Dwelling in Order of Visitation: 148
Family Number: 152
Race: White
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Eliza Hawkins
Occupation: Farmer
Months not employed: 0
Can Read: Yes
Can Write: Yes
Can Speak English: Yes
House Owned or Rented: R
Farm or House: F
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Robert M Hawkins 40
Eliza Hawkins 34
Willer Sarah Hawkins 16
Susan Hawkins 11
William Hawkins 10
Crawford Hawkins 8
Henry Hawkins 5

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Susian M Pickins
in the 1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Susian M Pickins
Age in 1910: 23
Birth Date: 1887
[1887]
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1910: Midland, Pontotoc, Oklahoma, USA
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Levi W Pickins
Father's Birthplace: Georgia
Mother's Birthplace: Georgia
Native Tongue: English
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Number of Children Born: 4
Number of Children Living: 2
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Levi W Pickins 30 Head
Susian M Pickins 23 Wife
Earl A Pickins 6 Son
Ray W Pickins Jr. 1 Son

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Susie Pickens in the 1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Susie Pickens
Age: 32
Birth Year: abt 1888
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1920: Brady, Garvin, Oklahoma
Street: Wynnwood Elmore Highway East and West
Residence Date: 1920
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Levi W Pickens
Father's Birthplace: Alabama
Mother's Birthplace: Alabama
Able to Speak English: Yes
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members Age Relationship
Levi W Pickens 39 Head
Susie Pickens 32 Wife
Carl Pickens 16 Son
Ray Pickens 10 Son
Alice Pickens 8 Daughter
Mildred Pickens 4 Daughter
Calvin Pickens 3 Son
Delbert Pickens 1 Son

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Susie Dickens in the 1930 United States Federal Census

Name: Susie Dickens
[Susie Pickens]
[Pickens]
Birth Year: abt 1887
Gender: Female
Race: White
Age in 1930: 43
Birthplace: Arkansas
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Homemaker?: Yes
Home in 1930: Elmore City, Garvin, Oklahoma, USA
Map of Home: Elmore City, Garvin, Oklahoma
House Number: 4
Dwelling Number: 57
Family Number: 61
Age at First Marriage: 16
Attended School: No
Able to Read and Write: Yes
Father's Birthplace: Alabama
Mother's Birthplace: Arkansas
Able to Speak English: Yes
Household Members Age Relationship
Levie W Dickens 49 Head
Susie Dickens 43 Wife
Mildred Dickens 15 Daughter
Calvin Dickens 13 Son
Delbert Dickens 11 Son
Lloyd Dickens 9 Son
Lewis Dickens 7 Son
Unive Dickens 5 Daughter
Reford Dickens 3 Son

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1940 United States Federal Census

Name: Susie Pickens
Age: 53
Estimated birth year: abt 1887
Gender: Female
Race: White
Birthplace: Arkansas
Marital Status: Married
Relation to Head of House: Wife
Home in 1940: Lawton, Comanche, Oklahoma
Map of Home in 1940: View Map
Street: Lee
House Number: 309
Inferred Residence in 1935: Rural, Oklahoma
Residence in 1935: Rural, Oklahoma
Resident on farm in 1935: Yes
Sheet Number: 23B
Attended School or College: No
Highest Grade Completed: Elementary school, 5th grade
Weeks Worked in 1939: 0
Income: 0
Income Other Sources: No
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members:
Name Age
Walter L Pickens 59
Susie Pickens 53
Louis Pickens 17
Reaford Pickens 12
Nera Pickens 8

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Susie Pickens in the U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995
Name: Susie Pickens
Gender: Female
Residence Year: 1946
Street Address: 510 H av
Residence Place: Lawton, Oklahoma, USA
Spouse: Walter L Pickens
Publication Title: Lawton, Oklahoma, City Directory, 1946

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"Do not stand at my grave and weep,
I am not there, I do not sleep.
I am in a thousand winds that blow,
I am the softly falling snow.
I am the gentle showers of rain,
I am the fields of ripening grain.
I am in the morning hush,
I am in the graceful rush
Of beautiful birds in circling flight,
I am the starshine of the night.
I am in the flowers that bloom,
I am in a quiet room.
I am in the birds that sing,
I am in each lovely thing.
Do not stand at my grave bereft
I am not there. I have not left."

― Mary Elizabeth Frye