Born in Swain County, N.C., she was the daughter of the late Thomas Carroll and Hattie Nichols Fox. Mrs. Watkins was of the Baptist faith. She was the widow of Claude Oliver Watkins, who died in 1999, and the last surviving member of her immediate family.

Surviving are three daughters, Pat Culbreth (Nick) of Columbus, Nettie Barnette of Mill Spring and Ruth Schlaker of Marietta, S.C.; also four granddaughters, Kristie Jenkins (Toby), Jennifer McCraw (Darrell), Ashley Speight (Joseph) and Marianne Acker. Six great-grandchildren, Allison, Camron, Benjamin and Bryson McCraw, Madison Blackwell and Lindsey Jenkins.

Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, October 7, 2009 in Polk Memorial Gardens, Columbus.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2009 in the McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.

Memorials may be made to Polk County Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 606, Columbus, N.C. 28722.

The family will be at their respective homes.

An online guest register may be signed at www.mcfarlandfuneralchapel.com.

McFarland Funeral Chapel, Tryon.