Ruth "Elaine" Watkins

Ruth “Elaine” Brown Watkins

Wrens, GA  – Ruth “Elaine” Brown Watkins, 70, loving and devoted wife of 49 years to Thomas Lewis Watkins, went home to be with her Lord Friday morning, January 31, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM, Tuesday, February 4, 2014 at Wrens Baptist Church with Rev. J. Scott McKinney officiating. Interment will follow in the Parker Methodist Church Cemetery in Bartow.

One of two children born to the late Ida Ruth McCulley Brown and the late Donald W. Brown, Elaine grew up in Amelia, Ohio. She graduated from Kentucky Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Louisville KY where she met the love of her life as he was attending The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. After living in Memphis Indiana, the family moved to Wrens in 1973 and she worked as a nurse in several area facilities, including Jefferson Hospital, Glendale Nursing Home and then at St. Joseph Hospital/Trinity Hospital, retiring in December 2012 with more than 48 years of RN service.  Elaine knew God called her to be a nurse—she faithfully followed his call and lovingly cared for all her patients. She served her Lord and Savior at Wrens Baptist Church, teaching the 4-5 year old children’s Sunday School class.  Having a servant’s heart, she was very giving and generous. Elaine’s greatest joy was being a wife, mother and grandmother and was most content being with her family.  Her loving, gentle spirit will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

Elaine was also preceded in death by her son, Thomas Lewis Watkins, Jr.  Other survivors include her children, Tamara Lynn Barringer (David) of Houston Texas, and Timothy Lane Watkins (Ashley); brother, Donald Brown (Georgia) of Columbia Illinois; five grandchildren, Thomas Lewis Watkins III, Lyle Douglas Watkins, Ryan Elizabeth Barringer, Davis Walker Barringer and Lane Thomas Watkins; sister-in-law, Rosa Lou Debaere (Merlin); two brother-in-laws, Robert J. Watkins of Harlem, and Kenneth Watkins (Jackie) of Wadley; numerous nieces and nephews; and many friends.  Pallbearers will be Lewis Watkins, Lyle Watkins, Bobby Lee Watkins, David Watkins, Jonathan Watkins and Ed Shepherd.  Serving as honorary pallbearers will be the Willis Clark Sunday School Class.

The family will receive friends at James Funeral Home from 6:00-8:001PM on Monday evening, February 3, 2014.

The family respectfully requests that in lieu of flowers memorial contributions be made to Wrens Baptist church Memorial Fund, PO Box 217, Wrens GA 30833.
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After Glow

I'd like the memory of me to be a happy one.
I'd like to leave an after glow of smiles when life is done.
I'd like to leave an echo whispering softly down the ways.
Of happy times and laughing times and bright and summer days.
I'd like the tears of those who grieve to dry before the sun,
Of happy memories that I leave when life is done.

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Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life:
I will dwell in the house of the Lord for years to come.
Psalms 23:6

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