Caroline Hawthorne was born in Bristol, Tennessee. She is the youngest of three girls. She is a cradle United Methodist and was raised at Addilynn Memorial United Methodist Church; she and her late husband also attended Weaver Church both located in Bristol, Tennessee. Caroline is an Associate Member on the path to become an Elder in the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. She is currently appointed as the Senior Pastor at Beech Grove United Methodist Church in Bristol, Virginia.
Caroline has a missionary heart and loves serving the least of these. She has served on our Ripples of Faith Kenya Mission Team since its inception in 2022 and has attended the trip annually. She currently works with the caregivers of the orphans we support in Embu, Kenya helping with income generating activities. She also has served in local, regional and other international missions as well.
During Caroline’s twelve-year tenure at Hunt, she became very compassionate about working with vulnerable people: children in poverty, persons close to being homeless, and the homeless of our community. Hunt began opening their doors as a warming shelter in 2018 during inclement weather which led to the formation of the Proverbs 3:27 Mission Center.
The Proverbs 3:27 Mission Center offers a warm/cool, dry, safe space to “be;” a hot breakfast and lunch; a clothes closet; a mail receptacle; laundry, shower, and restroom facilities; and referral services to other community assistant programs. Currently the Mission Center is open on Mondays and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m.
Family is a priority for Caroline, a widow, she has two sons. Her biological son is a senior at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tennessee pursuing his Bachelor’s Degree in Construction Science. She also received guardianship of Nate Roark when he was younger; Nate just finished his Bachelor’s Degree at Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and is pursuing his M.Div. also at Drew. Most of her free time is spent with her two great nieces and three great nephews.
