Joy Watkins, 90, of Saint Marys, Ohio, and a longtime resident of Murphy, died at 2:49 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, 2021, at Vancrest of Saint Marys.
She was born June 20, 1931, in Cherokee County, the daughter of Albert and Ora (Picklesimer) Horton.
She married Aubrey Watkins on April 3, 1953; he preceded her in death on Sept. 16, 1990.
She is survived by her daughter, Charlotte (Ronnie) Bruce of Saint Marys; a daughter-in-law, Carol Watkins of Blue Ridge, Ga.; her grandchildren, Barren (Amber) Watkins of Murphy; Kevin (Heather) Watkins of Blue Ridge; Shane (Jolena) Bruce of Saint Marys. She is also survived by her nine great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; her sister, Iva Jean Oliver of Jefferson, Ga.; a brother, Elton Horton of Ellijay, Ga.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; a son, Terry Watkins; siblings, Cleo Williamson, Norma Lee Newton and Bernard Horton.
She was a 1951 graduate of Hiwassee Dam High School in Murphy. She was a homemaker and had previously worked at Levi Strauss, and she tailored clothes for friends and family. She loved reading and was a member of Mount Liberty Baptist Church in Murphy.
A gathering of friends and family will be held from 6-7:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19, at Miller Funeral Home, 1605 Celina Road, Saint Marys.
Visitation and the funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 11, at Macedonia Baptist Church on Wolf Creek Road in Murphy.
Memorial donations may be given to the Baptist Childrens’ Home in Hayesville, N.C., in care of the Truett Baptist Association, 2235 N.C. Highway 141, Marble, NC 28905.