Pearl Louise (English) Hankerson

On November 24, 1945, in Edenborn, Pennsylvania, a baby girl was born to Pearl and Henry English; they named her Pearl Louise. Pearl was born into a family of three girls: Elizabeth, Henrietta, and Etta. After her birth, she was joined by two brothers: Henry Jr. and Bevely.

Pearl attended German Township School District in McClellandtown, Pennsylvania and graduated high school in 1963. She then moved to Easton, Pennsylvania where she found work at the former Strongwear Pants Factory as a seamstress and Bell Telephone Company as a telephone operator.  In 2009, after working as a case manager for the Pennsylvania Department of Public Assistance for thirty-four years she retired in order to relax, travel and enjoy life. 

Pearl and her late husband Willie Joe Edwards were blessed with a daughter: Janine Edwards and Janine eventually gifted her with a grandchild: Natavia Brown.

Pearl and Levi Hankerson were married in St. Thomas, Virgin Island in 1994 and they celebrated twenty-four years of marriage on July 5 of this year. From this marriage Pearl gained a son, Levi Hankerson Jr.; a daughter Darlene Hankerson; a granddaughter, Rebecca Rae; and grandsons, Kerreshe Daily and Tyler Thomas.

Pearl was a member of Greater Shiloh Church and served as a member of the Willing Workers Ministry, Cultural Club, and the Building Fund Ministry for the Chapel and main sanctuary.  Pearl was a member of the Women Auxiliary Club of the Paradise Club of Easton and former member of the Easton Branch NAACP where she worked on the Freedom Fund Banquet and Membership Committee.

Pearl was a true willing worker. She would gladly assist in organizing funeral repast and assisted to the sick and shut-in by delivering baskets to people who were going though cancer treatment. As a cook, Pearl could throw down and make a carrot cake that looked like a professional baker made it. She is known to many as happy, generous, loyal, and a free-spirit. And of course, Pearl LOVED to shop.

Pearl is survived by her husband, Levi and daughters: Darlene Hankerson and Janine Edwards of Easton, PA; son Levi Hankerson of Allentown, PA; two granddaughters: Rebecca Rae of New York and Natavia Brown of Allentown, PA; and two grandsons: Kerreshe Daily of Phoenix, AZ and Tyler Thomas of Forks Township, PA; two sisters: Elizabeth Hannah and Henrietta Thornton from McClellandtown, PA; two brothers: Henry English Jr. (Diane) from Washington, DC and Bevely English of McClellandtown, PA; goddaughter: Genisha Kelley of Easton, PA; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. 

Pearl was preceded in death by her first husband, Willie Joe Edwards; her parents, Pearl and Henry English; and sister, Etta English.

Pearl will truly be missed by her abundance of family and friends.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Pearl Louise (English) Hankerson, please visit our floral store.