James Austin Hankins III	

CONWAY, Arkansas James Austin Hankins III, age 68, of Conway, AR passed away Thursday, May 16, 2013. 

He was born May 20, 1944, in Mobile, Alabama to James Austin Hankins Jr. and Dorothy Donald Hankins. He grew up in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and graduated in 1962 from Tuscaloosa High School. He received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Alabama in 1967. He served in the U. S. Navy and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. 

He moved to Savannah, Georgia, to join the United States Customs Service 1970. He was with the Customs Service for 30 years, where he served as Port Director of Vicksburg, MS and later retired as Port Director at Little Rock, AR. 

Jimmy had a real talent for anything mechanical. At age 16, he put together a Model A automobile that he drove his entire life, calling it his "bestest A." During his entire life, he built and owned many antique cars, several of them beginning as boxes of parts and becoming showpieces. 

He became a Christian at a young age and was a faithful member of the Church of Christ all his life. He was a member of University Church of Christ and served them in many ways. 

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Brenda Rogers Hankins; daughter Mollie Hankins Gray (Adam) and son James Austin Hankins IV (Hollie); grandchildren, Aiden, Avery, Connor, Corinne and James Austin V, all of Conway, AR. He is also survived by a brother, Donald Hankins, and a sister, Anne Hankins Boyd, both of Tuscaloosa, AL; and numerous nieces and nephews. 

He was passionate about his children and grandchildren, and they loved him dearly. He spent a great amount of time teaching and playing with his grandchildren. He loved life, his family, and the many friends he made over the years. He was a beloved father, grandfather, husband, brother, and uncle, who will be missed more than words can describe.

Services will be held at University Church of Christ in Conway, AR on Monday, May 20, 2013 with visitation at 10:00am and funeral service at 11:00am. Interment with military honors will follow at Crestlawn Memorial Park Cemetery. 

The family requests that any memorials be made to the Southern Christian Home, P. O. Box 649, Morrilton, AR 72110.

Published in Tuscaloosa News on May 19, 2013