Edwin "Ed" Price Watkins

Born the son of a carpenter, Edwin Price Watkins, 94, of Tuscaloosa, went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 9th, 2022. Funeral services were held at 2:00pm on Friday, March 11, 2022 Graveside from Memory Hill Gardens, with Tony Smithson, Senior Pastor of Calvary Baptist Church Officiating. Services will be under the direction of Memory Chapel, a Dignity Memorial provider.

He was deeply loved by his family and friends. He was respected by all for his faith in God, his kindness, and his humor.

Ed had an amazing 53-year career at The Tuscaloosa News over the years as he witnessed and reported on numerous historical and civil rights milestones. As a sports editor, quite naturally Ed started off as a sportswriter. In the beginning of his career, Watkins covered 24 high school football games a week by mostly fielding telephone calls. He was in the press box when Hooty Ingram and Clell Hobson led Alabama to a 60-61 romp over Syracuse in The Orange Bowl. Some records set in that game still have not been broken. He was also at the Cotton Bowl where Tommy Lewis lept off the sidelines to tackle Rice running back Dick Moegel. He had broken Lewis on a long run and was awarded a touchdown after Lewis literally became Alabama’s 12th Man.

As a news reporter, he had the opportunity to interview many celebrities, including, but not limited to, Billy Graham, Dale Evans, George Wallace, Teddy Pendergrass, Ted Kennedy, the group, Alabama, and Jack Marshall, pianist for The Blackwood Brothers. He received numerous accolades and was presented with a proclamation from the Mayor of Tuscaloosa declaring it “Ed Watkins Day” on March 3rd, 1997. A member of the Tannehill Furnace & Foundry Commission, Associated Press Newswriting Award For The Best Stories Of The Year By Alabama Reporters in 1977, Agricultural Communications Award 1975, Alabama Forest Festival Committee’s Daily Newspaper Communicator of the Year Award,

As a loving father and husband, family was a top priority and as such, he switched to a news role in 1955 in order to see his children and grandchildren. Some of his fondest memories were spending time with his friends and family.

Ed Watkins was a constant at the Tuscaloosa News for over 50 years and remains a beloved figure throughout the Tuscaloosa community. He will be greatly missed by all, but his loving spirit and stories live on through his friends and family.

Mr. Watkins was preceded in death by his parents Trim Watkins and Lillian Montgomery Watkins, his wife Betty Jo Watkins and one sister Virginia Gwin. He is survived by daughter Lisa Fain Josey, son Gary Edwin Watkins (Michelle) both of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren: Jennifer Mallay Fain, John Mark Fain, Jr., William Harris Josey, Gary Justin Watkins, Travis Edwin Watkins (Kelcie); step-grandchildren Clint Wells (Isabelle), Mandy Rusch (Adrian) and Jacob Jamison; sister Patricia Beaty and neice Linda Maxwell (Pete).

Memorials may be made to Breast Cancer Research Foundation 28 West 44th Street, Suite 609, New York, NY 10036.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemoryChapelFuneralHome.com for the Watkins family.