Marvenia “Marv” Watkins, 75, a longtime Huntsville resident, passed away peacefully at home on December 24, 2017 after a battle with kidney cancer. She was born in Gainesboro, TN and was preceded in death by her parents Winton D. Goolsby and Amelia H. Goolsby, and brothers, William A. Goolsby, Walton D. Goolsby, and Marvin D. Goolsby. After graduating from White County High School in Sparta, TN she earned an undergraduate degree in Home Economics from Tennessee Technological University, subsequently becoming certified in Elementary Education and teaching in both the county and city school systems in Huntsville until her son, Robert, was born. In 1977, after Rob started school, she and her sister Henrietta started a retail arts and crafts store, Heart’s Delight. For nearly twenty years, she exercised her amazing gift for making and teaching crafts, and the business thrived. In addition to crafting, she enjoyed sewing and helping others.
She met her future husband, Jimmy Ray Watkins, on a blind date before a weekend revival in the spring of 1960, and they were married by his father, James C. Watkins, on December 27, 1964. She is survived by her husband of 53 years; son, Robert E. Watkins and wife, Smita A. Rahman; grandson, Kai O. Rahman-Watkins of Chicago, IL; sisters, Minnie L. Anderson of Louisville, KY, Henrietta Welch and husband, George, of McMinnville, TN; brother, James M. Goolsby and wife, Donna, of McMinnville, TN; and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, December 28, 2017 at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Friday, December 29 at the funeral home chapel. A graveside service will follow at Bascom Cemetery, located at 5311 Vervilla Road, Morrison, TN.
