Blessed are they that mourn; for they shall be comforted.
Matt 5:4

On Tuesday, May 17, 2011, Okasha departed this life and entered a life of eternal peace.

Okasha was born on March 10, 1989 in Washington, DC to Kathy Keys and Bertrand Hawkins.

At the tender age of eight (8), Okasha was baptized at the Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Oxon Hill, MD. He was a member of the youth choir, participated in the youth ministry and feeding the homeless. He obtained his education in the Prince Georges Public Schools. He was employed as a cook at the Pizza Hutt located in Oxon Hill, MD.

Okasha was known as "O" by friends and family members but affectionately known by most as "Kosh."

He leaves to cherish his memories his Daughter, Nevaeh Hawkins, Father, Bertrand Hawkins, Mother, Kathy Keys, Grandparents, Robert Hawkins and Evelyn Keys, Brothers, Melvin Carroll, III, Rhamad Hawkins, Brother-in-law, DeAndre Cuyler, Sister, Sabrina Carroll Cuyler, a special Sister, Clemmie Neal, four Uncles, Morris Hawkins, Larry Keys, Eddie Coles, and Theodore Hagens, five Aunts, Valencia and Marilyn Hawkins, Senora Keys Coles, Kim Hagen, and Gail Miles , two special Aunts, Jeannette Posey and Diann Montgomery, three Nephews, DeAndre, DeShawn and Demarri Cuyler, four nieces, Daizhah Cuyler, Breanna Carroll, Diamond and Destiny Cuyler, special cousins, Skii Benton,, Sheree Coates,, Lonnette Raye, Donnita Pugh and Joseph Benton, a host of other Uncles, Aunts, cousins, relatives and friends. His beloved deceased friends, Josh Carroll and Maurice Bynum. Other beloved friends, Kiara Fleming, Bria Smith, Demetrius Harris, Steven Evans, Darren Daniels, Tyrell Brown, Ashley Murphy.

Okasha was well known for his relationship with his nieces and nephews. He always made sure that his little ones were taken care of, whether it was just taking them to the park, school, or picking them up from school, making them clean the house or just taking them to McDonalds or bringing them pizza home from work. Okasha tended to his nieces and nephews as if he were there father. He always had a kind and loving spirit.

He was charming, smooth, witty and comical just to name a few of the qualities that defined him. He could always put a smile on your face with one of his famous sayings. If he agreed with what you were saying he would say "bet dat." If he disagreed he said "Oh, that's dead." But he was famously known for saying "you doing too much." He always found a way to crack an extra side joke in conversations. Confidence wrapped up in a bottle, Okasha had great influence over a wide range of friends and used it to show his love.

He enjoyed playing basketball at the Forest Heights Park with family and friends and loved the family dinners.

To know him was to love him and to have encountered his presence was a blessing sent from Heaven!

His Viewing and Homegoing Service will be held from 9:00am until time of Service, 11:00am on Saturday, May 21, 2011 in the Chapel of Thornton Funeral Home, P.A., 3439 Livingston Road, Indian Head, Maryland. His Interment will be in Heritage Memorial Cemetery in Waldorf, Maryland.