MILWAUKEE - Hawkins Hats and Things has been an anchor business along West Fond du Lac Avenue for more than three decades. But 81-year-old owner Mabel Hawkins-West said it is time to close shop.

To wear a church hat is to step into a legacy of dignity, elegance, and spiritual presence. For women like Evetta Petty , Kathy Anderson , and Wanda Chambers , crafting these hats has been a ...