Obituary of Lee Verna Watkins

The sun rose on the life of Mrs. Lee Verna Watkins on June 18, 1923 in Jackson, Mississippi. She was the second of four children born to Robert Crawford and Sarah Brown Crawford. Her siblings were Theodore, Lewis and Ernestine. Lee's childhood was marked by frequent moves. Not long after the birth of her sister, her mother died and her father remarried. Until she was 10, she lived in many states due to her father's work with the railroad. While the travel created stress and disruption in her life, a desire to discover new places was born, and remained all her life. Lee focused her time and energy on school, excelling wherever she went. Often the only black student in her class, she was routinely ignored. A straight A student, she won many awards and contests and the attention of the teachers. She skipped several grades and graduated high school at the age of 15. After two years at Tugaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi, she moved to Rhode Island and began working in the Navy Yard to care for her sister and step-mother. After several years in Rhode Island, they returned to New York where she was trained as a practical nurse and worked at Brooklyn State Hospital. In those years the opportunities for advancement for African American women were slim. To support her family, she had to change jobs often. She also worked for Donnelly Advertising Agency, Federal Reserve Bank, Downstate Hospital, and Brooklyn Jewish Hospital. In 1958, she married Raymond Francis Watkins. They were married for 44 years until Raymond's death in 2002. To this union were born five children, Linda, Ray, David, Raymond and Michael. She was additionally blessed with 12 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. After a few years as a stay at home mother, she became the secretary to the pastor of Coney Island Gospel Assembly. She served in many ways. She was a member of the choir, counseled young girls through the Missionnette program, lead a group of 8 & 9 year olds; while caring for her family, sick step-mother and brother. Her last formal work allowed her passion for cooking. Cathedral Catering specialized in affordable and elegant catering for common people. She became expert at carving flowers from vegetable and created table center pieces of them. Cooking wasn't her only passion, Lee also loved to sew, especially stuffed animals and robes for children. Lee's passion for travel led her to follow her children around the world. She travelled throughout the United States, the southern states, south to Florida, and west to California, from New York. She travelled to Europe; Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, Belgium and Luxemburg. Lee's greatest desire was to be loved and accepted. Her path to love was to excel at everything she did. It wasn't until she accepted Jesus as her personal savior that she found the love she always longed for. Her mother's death left a tremendous void she labored to fill all her life. Her new passion was the pursuit of a deep relationship with God. Through study of the bible and a deep relationship with Christ, she began a life long journey of allowing the gentle hand of God's love to tear down the walls she had built. Hidden wounds were healed and internal pressure released. Lee was able to lay aside more of her pain and become more obedient to God's leading. This journey continued until July 17, 2017, when Jesus escorted her to her new home. Though absent from the body, she is now walking and running in the presence of God. No more pain, no more sorrow. She is preceded in death by her husband Raymond Francis Watkins and two sons, Raymond and Michael. Those left to cherish her memory include her sons, Ray and David; daughter, Linda; twelve grandchildren, eleven great grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends. Rest in peace...Mrs. Lee