Miss Esther Watkins of Philadelphia, died on July 8, 2013, at age 97.
A funeral mass will be celebrated on Saturday, July 13, 2013 at 10 a.m.
at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Philadelphia. Burial will follow in
Cedarlawn Cemetery. Visitation will be held Friday,
July 12, 2013 from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at McClain-Hays Funeral Home.
Esther was the daughter of Dr. Thaddeus Earl Watkins, Sr. and Nettie
Elizabeth Watkins Duncan. She was also preceded in death by her brother,
Thaddeus Earl Watkins, Jr. and a nephew, John Watkins.
A longtime resident of Philadelphia, Esther earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree at MSCW,
a Masters Degree in History at the University of Alabama, a Masters Degree in Special
Education at Mississippi State University. While a graduate student at the University of
Alabama, she wrote a comprehensive history of Neshoba County.
Miss Watkins, a dedicated teacher, taught English and special education
at Philadelphia High School for almost 50 years. She gave of herself in
and out of the classroom and touched the lives of many students. She
was an active member of Holy Cross Catholic Church where she served
her faith community. She loved to paint, read and travel and will be
remembered by those who knew her for her generosity, kindness and
selflessness.
Esther is survived by her sister, Mildred Watkins Wilson of Louisville; a
sister-in-law, Louise Watkins of Nashville, TN; nieces, Carol Wilson
Kramer (Fred) of St. Louis, MO, Elizabeth Watkins Saunders (Kevin)
of Hendersonville, TN and Esther Watkins Gulli (Chris) of Oakland, CA;
nephews, David Wilson, Jr. of Louisville, Thaddeus Earl Watkins, III
(Christy) of Nashville, TN and Jim Watkins (Susan) of Rome , GA.; numerous
great nieces and nephews and three great-great- nephews.
She will be greatly missed by her nieces and nephews who were blessed
to call her Aunt Esther.
The family wishes to thank the nurses and staff of Quality Hospice and her
loving caregivers, Barbara Haskins, Mary Despiegler, Joyce Chisolm and
Else Parney.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Holy Cross
Catholic Church or your favorite charity.