TUSCUMBIA-Delia Watkins (B: ca. November 1853 – D: ca. 1910 -1920 – date unknown) in Colbert County, Tuscumbia, Alabama was
the daughter of Rev. Fredrick W. Watkins, Cherokee Indian, (B: 1811 – TN) and Mariah Watkins (B: 1826 – VA). Siblings:
Rev. Fred Lafayette W. Watkins (II); Rush W. Watkins, Rev. Seaton W. Watkins, Spencer W. Watkins, Peter W. Watkins
and Giles W. Watkins.
Delia Watkins
She married Rev. Thomas Donley, (B: Nov 1847), Tuscumbia, AL, in 1867. The 1910 census reports she had 11
children with 7 surviving: (Lilly Donley M: Edward Belue); (Polly Donley – M: Art Belue); (Porter Donley –
M: Elsie Perkins); (Annie Donley – M: Luke Brown); (Edward Donley – Killed by lightening); (Milton Donley
– M: Millie (?); (Virginia Donley – M: (?). Thomas died from a hunting accident. In 1920 she was living in the
Porter Donley household listed as widow and ‘Grandmother’.
According to The American Star, a Tuscumbia based African American newspaper edited by Professor
George Washington Trenholm, (and newspaper of the Muscle Shoals Black Missionary Baptist
Association), she was a member of the Mosaic Templars of America (MTA), an African American fraternal
organization and was active in numerous church and community events; leading praise services
(July,1906), including the preparation of a surprise dinner for Rush Watkins on his marriage to Rose
Bonner (Feb 1906) after his first wife, Bertha B. Watkins’ passing some years prior. Rush and Bertha B.
Watkins’ children were:
(1) Maria (Mariah) Watkins
(2) Robert Watkins
(3) Letha Watkins
(4) Thomas Watkins
(5) Minna Watkins
(6) Luvinia Watkins
(7) Ellen Watkins
Bertha B. Watkins was deeded approximately 5 acres of land by Ella W. Thornton in her Last Will and
Testament for “services rendered.” The relationship with the Dr. G.W. Thornton family include Virginia,
Tennessee and Alabama. Bertha subsequently bequeathed the land and home to Rush Watkins.
This information was provided by Tom McKnight, family genealogist, March 12, 2024 for Belle Mont
Facebook inclusion. Please send any queries, additions or corrections to tmperal2011@gmail.com to
maintain information consistency and accuracy.
Media Release/Thomas McKnight
