Mary Watkins

Our dear mother Mary Starnes Watkins gained her wings on Sunday morning, August 25th, 2024 at 10:15 AM. She departed earth Heaven bound to spend eternity. She was a wonderful daughter, sister, wife, mother, aunt, and grandmother.

Mary was born in Union County on January 28, 1930 and was the daughter of the late Odus L. Starnes and the late Alma Knight Starnes of Waxhaw, NC.

She met her life partner while he was stationed at Camp Sutton in Monroe, N.C. in March of 1944. Three months later, on June 21st, Mary and George were married.

Mom was a strict Christian Woman. Mom did everything for her family. She raised all of our food from milking the cow, planting and harvesting the vegetables and even the meat that we raised. Mom ruled the kitchen and a fine cook she was. She nursed our wounds, played games, cried when we cried, was manager of the house, loved our friends, raised everyone’s children, made our clothes, was a disciplinarian and taught us life lessons.

Mom was a seamstress by trade and made everything from ladies swimsuits to wedding gowns – even tuxedos. She was a master of crochet. Mom collected baby dolls.

If we were to define our mother in one word it would be LOVE. She loved everything and everybody. She put love into everything that she did.

Surviving Mary are her loving children, Helen Baucom (Terrell) of Monroe, Susie Thornton of Monroe, Larry Watkins (Dee) of Mt. Gilead, Faye Strawn of Wesley Chapel and Kay King (Wayne) of Marvin; 9 Grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and an extended number of great-great grandchildren.

Preceding her in death are her late husband George C. Watkins and her son George Edward “Eddie” Watkins (Lottie).

The family will receive friends and relatives on Thursday August 29th at Hillcrest Baptist Church, located at 4316 Hillcrest Church Road, Monroe, NC 28110. Visitation will be from 10:00 am to 11:00 am. Funeral services for Mrs. Watkins will then follow the visitation at 11:15 am, with burial to follow after the services in the church cemetery.

The family suggest that memorials be made to Hillcrest Baptist Church Building Fund, 4316 Hillcrest Church Road, Monroe, NC 28110.

The family would like to extend their gratitude to White Oak Manor of Waxhaw NC. and Kyndal Funderburk of Sanger Heart Institution, Atrium West Stallings I.C.U., who loved mom past her last breath.

McEwen Funeral Home in Monroe is honored to serve the family of Mary Starnes Watkins.