Mary B. Sanders Watkins

Mary Belle Sanders Watkins made a peaceful transition on July 6, 2010 in Gilbert, AZ at the age of 74. She was the youngest of 6 children and was born August 12, 1935 to Horace and Elizabeth Sanders in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

After graduating from Southern University Laboratory School in 1954, Mary moved to Nashville, Tennessee where she graduated from Tennessee State University with a BS and MS in Education. While in college at Tennessee State University, she joined the Alpha Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. in 1957 and continued her graduate membership through Alpha Delta Omega Chapter in Nashville. In 1981, Mary received her PhD from Vanderbilt University.

On, August 1, 1963, Mary was united in holy matrimony to John H. Watkins. From this union, two children were born: Jonathan and Karen.

Mary enjoyed teaching throughout her life and was a strong and compassionate woman to all who knew her as well as for her family. Throughout her career as an educator, Mary worked for a number of schools in Evansville, Indiana and Nashville, Tennessee including Lincoln, Alex Green Elementary, St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School, St. Pius X Elementary, as well as Tennessee State University. Mary was a doer and was always actively involved in professional and community organizations. She took an active role in providing summer enrichment programs throughout the community to encourage and educate our youth.

Her faith was important to her. She was a member of Clark Memorial United Methodist Church in Nashville, Tennessee where she worked in the nursery and the Meals on Wheels program.

She is survived by her loving and devoted husband of 46 years, John H. Watkins; daughter Karen (Donald) Bryant; son Jonathan Watkins, all of Arizona; brothers: Claude, W. B., Albert (Sarah) and Roy Sanders, all of Michigan. She was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Clifton Sanders. Mary also leaves a host of loving relatives, friends, and neighbors in Nashville.

Acknowledgment

Memorials may be made in Mary's name to the American Diabetes Association or Alzheimer's Association.

Click the link to donate to the American Diabetes Association: http://main.diabetes.org/goto/Mary.Watkins