Emma D Watkins 73, of Rogersville, Alabama, went to be with the Lord on Sunday, Oct. 26, 2014, at Murray Regional Hospital in Columbia,Tennessee. She was an evangelist and a
retiree from the NYC Board Of Education. Mrs. Watkins moved with her husband Envy
Watkins Sr. to Alabama in 1997. It was thensShe became a dedicated member of
Ekklesia Missionary Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school and named
elder of the church under her Bishop Kobe Fitzgerald. Emma was a phenomal woman
who not only raised her six children, but also raised her six grandchildren as her
own.
Emma was preceded in death by her mother and father, Maggie and Eugene
Ravenell, and four brothers, Billy, Preston, Timothy, and Eugene. Her eldest son, Eddie
McKelvin, also preceded her in death. She is survived by her husband of 50 years,
Envy Watkins Sr.; one daughter, Terry Thomas; four sons, Dwayne Watkins, Envy
Watkins Jr., Reggie Watkins, and Terrance Watkins; ten grandchildren, Eddie
Brown, Raymond Watkins, Sharisse Watkins, Shawn Brown Watkins, Envy Watkins lll, Danielle Watkins, Jewel McKelvin, Markell Bledsoe, Jade Watkins, and Dream
Watkins; five great-grandchildren, Justin Brown, Jordan Brown, Jada Brown, Kobe
Watkins, and Elijah Watkins; two brothers, Maxwell Ravenell and Michael Ravenell;
five sisters, Paulette Long, Linda Ackerson, Jacqueline McNoyd, Tina Ravenell,
and Michelle; countless nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends; one very special
friend, Vonnie Smith; and three goddaughters.
Visitation with the family will be held at Thompson and Sons Funeral Home, Florence Alabama, Thursday,
Nov. 6, 2014, from 6-8 p.m. The funeral services will be held at Ekklesia
Church, Sheffield, Alabama, Friday, Nov. 7, 2014, at 1 p.m., with burial in Southside Cemetery, Florence, Alabama.
The body will be placed in the church at noon.
Thompson and Son Funeral Home, Florence, is directing
