Betty A. Watkins

Betty Ann Watkins, age 88 was born on June 15, 1931 in Buchanan, GA. She went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, January 28, 2020 while in her daughter’s home.

Betty wed Robert Sr. in the late 1940s and from that union Robert Jr., Charles, John, Dortha, Walter, Bobby, and Candy were born. After Robert’s death in 1967, Betty became the sole breadwinner for her children. She worked for many restaurants most notably, Explorer’s Restaurant and she was also a private duty nurse’s aide for the elderly. Betty lovingly opened her home to many, many children when she became a foster mother in 1988. Some of those children are still a part of her family today. In 1997, Betty retired from Aetna Maintenance, Inc.

In 1976, Betty married George Watkins and they remained together until his death in April 1995. She joined Ridge Grove Baptist Church in 1979, where she gave her life to Christ. Betty is a member of Church in Jesus Christ. For more than 40 years, Betty served the Lord with joyous praise; even in her last days she could be heard yelling from her bed, “Thank you, Jesus!”

Betty loved taking care of her family by cooking down-home southern dishes, and baking delicious cakes and pies. When she wasn’t in the kitchen, Betty was gone fishing. Her other favorite past time was watching Lucius on Empire, Let’s Make a Deal, The Price is Right and the news. Cowboy TV shows and soap operas were her favorites as she was a faithful fan of The Young & The Restless and The Bold & The Beautiful.

Betty is preceded in death by her husbands, Robert J. Palmer, Sr. and George H. Watkins; mother, Aldora Heflin and father, Arthur Trammell; sons, Robert J. Palmer, Jr., Charles E. Palmer, Sr., Walter L. Palmer, Bobby J. Palmer, John F. Palmer; daughter, Dortha A. Palmer-Trent; daughters-in-law, Patricia Banner Palmer and Barbara Y. Palmer; grandson, Charles E. Palmer, Jr., great grandson, Jeremy T. Palmer; brother, Walter Trammell; and aunt, Jane Trammell.

Betty leaves to cherish her wonderful memory, her devoted daughter, Candy (Joe Wiggins) Tuff and son, Kenneth Palmer; grandchildren, Felecia Palmer, Leslie Palmer, Lakeisha, TJ Palmer, Jonathan (Denise Booth) Palmer, John Palmer, Sandra Palmer, Latrice Wilson, Tanya Palmer, Fred Palmer, Freddie Palmer, Roger Palmer, Bobby Palmer, Walter Palmer, Candace Tuff, and Nicole Debro; 34 great grandchildren; 5 great great-grandchildren; son-in-law, John Trent; daughter-in-law, Billie Jo Palmer and many loving family members and friends.

Visitation 11:00 AM and Funeral Service 12:00 PM Friday, February 7, 2020 at MARLAN J. GARY FUNERAL HOME, THE CHAPEL OF PEACE EAST, 5456 E. Livingston Ave.

Interment at Eastlawn Cemetery.