James “Kip” Dawkins, 50, of 523 W. Montgomery Street, Gaffney, passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

Kip was born in Gaffney, SC and was a son of Wilma (Lavander) Dawkins Davis and the late Herbert O. Smith. He was reared in the home of Sybil Wilkins and the late Wash Gene Wilkins.

He joined Bethel Baptist Church at an early age.  He was a Gaffney High School graduate and was a former employee at Freightliner Custom Chassis.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Ronnie Smith and Shawn Dawkins.

He passed away Saturday, April 29, 2023, in Spartanburg Regional Hospice Home.

He leaves to cherish loving memories a son, Jalen Dawkins, of Spartanburg; siblings, Robin Williams, of New Jersey, Shavonia “Necey” Lawrence (Darrell), of Washington, D.C., Traci Smith, Dysheka Smith, Janine Dawkins Cumberlander, all of Gaffney, Michael Studyvance and Joel Trent Dawkins (Quensen), both of Gaffney, Altonnia, DeAngelo, Wash, and Kimberly Wilkins; reared in the home as siblings, Keithland, Manasha, Ninda and Ernest, Jr. McDonald; two aunts, Maxine Anderson (David), of New York City and Trudy Dawkins, of Gaffney; a special cousin, Shannon, Dawkins, of Gaffney; other relatives and friends.

A Funeral Service will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023, at 1:00 p.m., in The Gilmore Mortuary Chapel with The Rev. Dr. J.W. Sanders, Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Gaffney Memorial Park.

The family is receiving friends at the home of his sister, Traci Smith, 123 Maplewood Drive, Gaffney, SC.