Sandra Faye Williams Watkins

Sandra Faye Williams (Watkins) transitioned from her earthly hone to Heaven early on Saturday morning , July 25, 2026

She was born October 10, 1949 in Lenoir County and attended Kinston City Schools. She is the last of her siblings (Claudie, Glenwood, Darrel, Nicky, Patricia & Betty Sue) to leave this earth.

She moved to the Back Swamp Community after marrying her soul mate Durwood Watkins in March of 1965. Together they raised their 4 children on their farm on the Futrell Loop Road—the "farm life" way, teaching them to work hard at young ages whether in the tobacco field, at the tobacco barn, tending and storing food up for winter from their garden, and working in their 4 turkey houses. Her after Sunday dinner meals were some of her children's favorite meals that usually consisted of fried chicken, rice and gravy and butter beans, although she had a hot meal with homemade biscuits and molasses on the table each night. From canning to cooking, she passed down countless skills to her girls. She was a loving Mother, and would do anything for her children, and anyone else. Her children considered themselves Blessed to have such a wonderful Mother and role model.

She put her faith in Jesus Christ in her daily life. Her spirit will live on in the lessons she taught her children and the way she loved fiercely.

She was an avid fan of Bojangles sweet tea, loved the color red, the song “I can only imagine”, going to thrift stores, and taking country rides with her forever best friend Jan. She looked forward to her niece Diane coming for visits, as they always would just get tickled and laugh together.

She leaves behind her oldest son Ricky Watkins and his wife Juanema, her oldest daughter Debra Watkins-Morton and her husband Keith, her youngest daughter Judy Ann Watkins, and youngest son Gregory A Watkins all of the Back Swamp Community of Richlands, her Grandchildren Travis Morton (Amanda), Daniel Morton (Chelsea), Zackery Childress (Watkins) and Jeffrey Lange (Morton), her Great Grandchildren, Levi Morton and Zack and Hunter Childress (Watkins), her best friend forever and her children’s God Mother Jan Hill, Special Sister in law Janice Watkins and a Brother in law Gurman Watkins and several nieces and nephews.

"Mother’s Love" Thank you for watching over me. Thank you for knowing when to hold me close and when to let me go. Thank you for every stepping stone and for the path that always led home. I thank you for the time you took to see the heart inside of me. You gave me roots to start this life and then you gave me wings to fly, and I learned to dream because you believed in me. There’s no power on this earth, no treasures equal to its worth, as the gift of a Mother’s love! Thank you for every sunlit day that fill the corners of my memory. Thank you for every selfless unsung deed I know you did for me. Thank you for giving me the choice to search my soul till I could find my voice. And I thank you for teaching me to be strong enough to bend. I am forever thankful to God for my beautiful Mother’s love.

Graveside Service: Wednesday, July 29, 2026, 9:00 AM, Watkins Family Cemetery, Richlands, NC Visitation will take place at the cemetery. Community Funeral Home of Beulaville is honored to serve the Watkins family.