Please join us in raising a Chocolate Martini to celebrate the life of Mary Lou Hawkins, our beloved "Mumsie."

She was born in Holden, West Virginia and passed peacefully, surrounded by love in Stuart, Florida.

In her 94 years, she lived an adventure-filled life that anyone would be proud of.

Mary Lou, along with her late husband Bill Hawkins, traveled the world and experienced more than most. They started their family in Chincoteague, Virginia moved them to the Bahamas and then to Stuart. They sailed throughout the Caribbean while making lifelong friends along the way, and collected passport stamps from Korea, Norway, and more.

Beyond being a wife and travel partner, she was smart as a whip and had a philanthropic soul. She graduated from the College of William and Mary and was a proud sister of Alpha Chi Omega, recently celebrating 75 years of sisterhood.

She turned her love of shopping into a career through her two successful businesses, The Design Center and The Midnight Sun. She taught her granddaughters the importance of a high-quality shoe and keeping "mad money" at the ready so would always have their independence.

Mary Lou was happiest with a good book and a crossword puzzle. She loved all things cute, pink, and electronic. We are fairly certain her personal heaven looks like a Brookstone.

She was the anchor of our family and supported us through every milestone, both good and difficult. She will be remembered by many as a kind and thoughtful friend. She was the type of person every good Southern woman aspired to be.

We know Bill is waiting for her on the other side, rum punch in hand, ready to take her on a sunset sail.

In lieu of flowers, buy something that makes you happy and spend time with your family.

A celebration of life will be announced later.