Minnie Smith Watkins was born on April 8, 1935 to the late Robert Smith and Lillie Mae McDonald in Limestone County.
She was united in holy matrimony to J. P. Watkins and to this union seven children were born. She confessed hope in Christ and became a member of St. Minor Primitive Baptist Church. During her faithful years of service, she was a member of the choir and served on the usher board as president. She worked for Wakefield Laundry until it closed. She was later employed at Gold Kist for twenty-six (26) years, until her retirement.
Minnie was preceded in death by her parents, a sister, Addie M. Horton and a brother, Charlie McDonald.
She departed this life on Sunday, February 25, 2007. She leaves to cherish her memory eight children: Winda Gail Smith of Huntsville, Alabama, Mary Avery (Samuel), Hazel Craft (Bill), Alice Watkins, James Watkins, J. P. Watkins Jr., Samantha Watkins and Shenequa Deberry; stepdaughter, Shelby Fennell; one brother, William Henry McDonald (Mamie); close friends: Mother Hattie Hundley, Laverne Hampton and Louise McCullars; seventeen grandchildren, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Watkins were held Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the St. Minor Primitive Baptist Church, with Pastor Mario Ford Officiating. Interment was held in the Warrenton Cemetery – Guntersville, Alabama.