Jane Hawker: a lady who matters

Jane Hawker’s long and distinguished career of service to the people of Danville is winding down. Hawker, who has worked alongside Danville Commonwealth’s Attorney William H. Fuller III since he took office on Jan. 1, 1970, will retire at the end of this year when Fuller’s final term ends.

“When he tries a case, I’m there,” Hawker said.

That’s a tremendous understatement. Fuller recently called Hawker “the glue that holds everything together.”

“She freed me to prep and try cases,” Fuller said. “I didn’t have to worry about this office.”

Hawker took notes during trials, kept up with court documents, helped to schedule trials and coordinate witnesses and ran the office. That gave Fuller the opportunity to interview witnesses, gather evidence, build cases, research law and prepare for trial.

Who can put a price on that kind of help?

As Fuller nears retirement, Hawker has been recognized for her decades of service.

She recently received the prestigious Liberty Bell award for her contributions to the legal system. The Liberty Bell award is given to a non-lawyer by the Danville Bar Association and the Danville Rotary Club during the annual Law Day ceremonies.

“Her dedication, devotion and love of her job have kept the citizens of Danville safer than they will ever know,” said Michael Newman, a senior assistant commonwealth’s attorney.

Hawker wasn’t a lawyer, of course, but through her hard work, the city’s chief criminal prosecutor had the opportunity to concentrate on the work that made this community a better, safer place to live and work.

Hawker’s career serves as a reminder that something as complicated as the “criminal justice system” really is just that, a system that relies on a lot of different people. That means everything from ordering office supplies to taking careful notes to treating the victims of crime with dignity, fairness and compassion.

It’s a lot of work. Hawker made it a career, and because of her efforts, Danville’s criminal justice system worked a lot more efficiently.

Asked about her future plans, Hawker said she would spend more time with her family (“My two grandsons are the light of my life.”), volunteer and become more involved in her church.

“My family always understood when I couldn’t be with them,” Hawker said. “It’s been a wonderful journey to work for someone who is so honest, fair and dedicated to their job … but I’ll stay busy.”

People like Hawker are rare, indeed. She will be missed.