Thursday, April 30, 2015

Homer Everette Watkins

Homer Watkins, 76, of Noxapater, Mississippi, went to his heavenly home on Thursday, April 30, 2015, at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo, Mississippi. Visitation will be Saturday, May 2, 2015, from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Nowell-Massey Funeral Home in Louisville, Mississippi. Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, May 3, 2015, at Noxapater Methodist Church with Rev. David Meadows and Rev. Mike Smith officiating. Additional visitation will be the day of the service one hour prior to service time at the church. Interment will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Noxapater.
Mr. Watkins was born on July 6, 1938, to William E. and Hazel Kilpatrick Watkins. Homer graduated from Mississippi State University in 1960, where he was a member of Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity. He enjoyed a successful career in the automobile industry for over 60 years. He was an active member of Noxapater Methodist Church and the Methodist Men’s Club of the church. For 30 plus years, Homer was a member of the Winston Shrine Club and he served in the National Guard.

Mr. Watkins is survived by his wife of 28 years, Sarah Watkins, of Noxapater; two sons, Everett Watkins of Key West, Florida; and Thad Watkins and wife, Anne Cassell, of Hoover, Alabama; and two daughters, Melissa Parker and husband, Ed; and Mindy Leachman, all of Calhoun City, Mississippi. He loved being “Gramps” to ten grandchildren: Thad Watkins, Jr. and Allen Watkins; Bradley, Martin, and Sara White; Travis and Lenon England; Tracy King; Jace Leachman; and Lacey Leachman Herrington. He was also “Gramps” to eight great-grandchildren: Jordan and Riley England; Austin and Mallory England; Keeper and Brady White; Emma Rae King; and Amory Logan. Homer was an only child but he loved his special cousin, Sybil Claire Sartain, like a sister and she mourns his passing; as does the mother of his sons, Patricia Watkins Farris of Ridgeland, Mississippi. He was preceded in death by his parents; and his son, Jimmy White.

Serving as pallbearers will be Dickie Caperton, Sammy Carter, Rusty King, Dwayne McQuery, and Robert Wall. Honorary pallbearers will be Archie Camp, Reginald Horne, H. B. Maxey, Don Ray Parker, Leo Parker, Charles Reed, Jerry Webb, and Rex Brunt. Memorials may be given to Noxapater United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 282, Noxapater, MS 39346 or to Mt. Carmel Cemetery Fund, c/o Noxapater Baptist Church, P.O. Box 251, Noxapater, MS 39346.

Services are under the direction of Nowell-Massey Funeral Home, 724 North Columbus Avenue, Louisville, MS. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family by signing the guest register at www.nowellmasseyfuneralhome.com.