John H. Watkins

John H. Watkins was born July 19, 1924 in Nashville, Tennessee to the late John Westley Watkins and Carrie Rucker Watkins. He made a peaceful transition on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 in Mesa, Arizona. John was the remaining survivor of four siblings: Jerry, Carrie, and Mary Louise. After losing his mother at an early age, John was taken care of by his foster parents, Reverend & Mrs. Julius C. Johnson.

John graduated from Pearl High School in Nashville. He entered into Tennessee A. & I. State College in 1940. In 1942, John left college and joined the US Army and was stationed in France during World War II. He returned home in 1945 and completed his academics and graduated in 1948 from Tennessee A. & I. State College, which now is known as Tennessee State University (TSU). John was also inducted into Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated, Zeta Alpha Chapter at TSU. Upon graduation, John’s employment career began in 1948 as a senior accountant clerk at TSU. After working in several departments, John became the assistant director of admissions where he retired in 1988.

While at TSU, John met Mary Belle Sanders and they married August 1, 1963. From this union, two children were born: Jonathan and Karen.

John was a loyal and active member of Clark Memorial United Methodist Church. He served on various committees, including offertory steward until he relocated with his wife to Mesa, Arizona to be closer to their children.

Survived by devoted children, Jonathan Watkins and Karen Watkins-Bryant (Donald); niece, Jennifer Staples (Tennessee); brother-in-laws, Claude, W.B., Albert (Sarah), and Roy (all of Michigan), loving care-giver, Glenda Steward and a host of other loving relatives, neighbors, and friends. Proceeded in death by his wife, Mary.

Memorials may be made in John’s name to the National Kidney Foundation (www.kidney.org).

Arrangements under the direction of Mariposa Gardens Memorial Park and Funeral Care, Mesa, AZ.