Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Mary Frances Watkins (known as Mother Watkins) 94, of Kenbridge, VA, a native of Prince Edward County, passed peacefully on January 23, 2020, surrounded by family. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Dr. Haywood R. Watkins, parents and siblings. She is survived by four children: Ann Neely (Harold), Amenta Crouch (Cornelius), Gale Hudson (David) and Haywood Watkins, Jr. (Zelma), eleven grandchildren, twenty-one great grandchildren, five great-great grandchildren, and a host of other relatives and friends. She served with much delight beside her husband at Mt. Ellis Baptist, Poplar Lawn Baptist, St. Matthew’s Baptist, Mt. Sinai Baptist, Mt. Bethel Baptist, Mayflower Baptist, and served faithfully in the E.C. Thompson Ministers’ Wives Association.

After being a stay-at-home mom, she worked for the United States Department of Agriculture Stabilization Services in Lunenburg. She attributed her success on the job to her high school math teacher, Dorothy Vaughan, one of the Hidden Figures in the NASA Space Program.

Family and friends will be received between 10-11 a.m. on February 1, 2020 at St. Matthew’s Baptist Church, Kenbridge, Virginia, with services at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Kevin Robinson, Pastor. Remains rest at Wilson Funeral Home in Keysville, Virginia.

In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the church that ministers Christ to your hearts. Acknowledgments and condolences can be sent to francesneely@me.com.