Margaret Sullivan Watkins

Published 12:05 am Sunday, August 4, 2013

March 15, 1924 — July 31, 2013

NATCHEZ — Services for Margaret Sullivan Watkins, 89, of Natchez, who died Wednesday, July 31, 2013 at her residence, will be at 11 a.m. Monday at Grace United Methodist Church with the Rev. Vicki Watkins Landrum and the Rev. Nance Hixon officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. Monday until service time at Grace United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Watkins was born March 15, 1924, in Bude, the daughter of Mark Alexander Sullivan and Marvel Neal Sullivan.

She graduated from Prentiss High School and Copiah-Lincoln Junior College at Wesson, Miss, where she met her future husband Troy B. Watkins. She liked to say that she earned a PHT degree, putting hubby through, because they were married as he pursued his bachelor’s degree at Millsaps College and law school and graduate school at Ole Miss. Mrs. Watkins assisted her husband in operating Natchez Tobacco and Specialty Company and, in later years, four convenience stores in the area.

Mrs. Watkins was a member of Grace United Methodist Church for 60 years, having served as a kindergarten teacher and a substitute adult class teacher. She also served as a pianist for the children’s choir, the adult choir and church services. She served as an officer in the Grace United Methodist Women for many years, on the local and district levels.

She often stated that her main goal in life was to rear her five children in a manner that they would be a credit to her and her husband and to their hometown. She felt that she accomplished that.

Mrs. Watkins was preceded in death by her husband, Troy B. Watkins; her parents; one brother, Walter Neal Sullivan and wife Judyne Stringer Sullivan; and one sister, Bobby Joyce Sullivan Inabet.

Survivors include three sons, Dr. Troy B. Watkins Jr. and wife, Susie, of Boise, Idaho, William David Watkins and wife, Susan, of Jackson, and Paul B. Watkins and wife, Paula, of Clinton; two daughters: Margaret Watkins Robison of Natchez, and Carole Watkins Evans and husband, Gary, of Ocean Springs; one sister; Jimmye Sullivan Walker of Jackson; eleven grandchildren, Jessica Taylor Watkins of Birmingham, Ala, Hiliary Watkins Godbeer of Phoenix, Ariz, David Watkins Jr. of Jackson, Jason Watkins and wife, Laney, of Jackson, Paul B. Watkins Jr. and wife, Jessica, of Oxford, Allison Watkins of Jackson, Will Robison of Hattiesburg, Hamilton Robison and wife, Johnny, of McComb, Drew Robison and wife, Pakou, of Atlanta, Ga, Laury Robison Parker and husband, Dave, of McComb, and Reese Evans of Ocean Springs: eight great grandchildren, Avery Parker, Jeremy Horvat, Rachel Horvat, Webster Watkins, Douglas Elaine Watkins, Seirra Robison, Mikael Robison, and Lillie Watkins; and by a number of nieces and nephews, including a special niece, Rachel Sullivan of Madison.

Special thanks to great granddaughter, Avery Parker and former daughter-in-law, Dr. Margaret Watkins.

Pallbearers will be grandsons, David Watkins, Jr., Jason Watkins, Paul Watkins, Jr., Drew Robison, Will Robison and Hamilton Robison.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace United Methodist Church or the Natchez Adams County Humane Society.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lairdfh.com.