Reverend Linda Margaret Watkins

was born February 27, 1940 in Houston, TX to Walter “Pruett” Watkins, MD and Iantha “Maxine” Moses. She passed away November 2, 2024, All Souls’ Day, at The Wesleyan Memory Care in Georgetown, TX. She grew up in Luling, TX surrounded by extended family where she enjoyed climbing trees, reading books and going to movies. Her middle school years were spent living at San Marcos Academy, where she met students from all over the world with very diverse backgrounds. Graduating early from Luling High School in 1956 with her sweetheart James Otis Smith “Smitty”, she went on to graduate from UT with a BA in Biology at the age of 19. They married in 1958 and moved to College Station where she worked in a lab at Texas A&M and taught at a local secondary school.

In the mid-60s they moved to Richardson where she became involved with the United Methodist Church, neighborhood groups, and the League of Women Voters. In the 70s, she became interested in real estate through investing and managing their personal properties and later worked as a realtor in North Dallas, where she was often the top agent of the company producing over $1 million in sales annually. Success in real estate afforded them the ability to travel extensively to places like Mexico, Europe, Hawaii, Jamaica, as well as a month-long camper trailer trip through the western United States with their kids.

During this time, her father’s gift of a weekend retreat in Austin inspired her interest in theology. She decided to attend Perkins school of Theology, earning her Master’s degree in ‘84. She became one of the first women in the Dallas area ordained as a United Methodist minister. While in seminary she found herself seeking spiritual growth opportunities often in retreats and monasteries. At the end of that year, she moved to Switzerland to study at the Carl Jung Institute where she developed interests in the subconscious, dreams, hypnosis, meditation, and various paths of healing. When she came home from Switzerland, she returned to Perkins and earned her Doctorate of Ministry Degree. The Rev. Dr. Watkins served as associate pastor at FUMC Richardson and established her own nonprofit organization, “Special Ministries Inc.” which focused on women’s issues and provided pastoral counseling.

At age 50 she moved to downtown Santa Fe for a period of rest and relaxation where she was visited by many friends and family. In 1996 she moved to Sun City in Georgetown to be close to her children and grandchildren.

As a lifelong learner, she realized the need for continuing education. She became one of the founding members and the first program Director of Senior University, Sun City, Georgetown. This was one of her proudest accomplishments.

During her years in Georgetown she spent her time leading retreats and various groups for women focused on personal growth, dream work, writing, and mental health. She was also spending time caring for her family and grandchildren. In 2002 she became an associate pastor of Wellspring United Methodist Church, where her ministry was in pastoral care. As a seventh generation Texan, with an ancestor who was part of the “Old 300” settlers of Texas, she became a member of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas. Her love of state and family history inspired her passion for genealogy.

In Linda’s own words in 2011: “I have had an amazing life. As I look back over 70+ years, my response is gratitude and joy for the adventures I have had, the people I have known and loved, for the places I have lived, for the challenges and opportunities I’ve been given. I am grateful for the ministries I have been called to and the guidance and direction that has always been present in my life. So many blessings. I have so many stories to tell…” Above all, “my most favorite thing in life was being ‘Grandma’.” The Rev. Dr. Linda M. Watkins is survived by her children, Cheryl Lyn Young and Jim Pruett Smith, her grandchildren, Dillon James Young, Tyler Joseph Young, Trinity Mae Smith, Ashley Lyn Jules Smith and half-sister Carolyn Pecht. She was preceded in death by her parents and sister Madeline Maxine Westbrook.

The celebration of her life will be held November 23, 2024, 11:00am, at the Cook-Walden Davis Funeral Home in Georgetown, TX.

The family would like to especially thank the staff of the Wesleyan Assisted Living & Memory Care and Suncrest Hospice for their loving care of our beloved mother.

In lieu of flowers, please donate in Linda‘s name to the Hope Alliance Williamson County or your preferred women’s counseling support center.