05/01/2018
In addition to her biological family and children, she had the honor and privilege of sharing her love and guidance as a summer parent for tens of thousands of children throughout Northeastern Alabama and afar as the sole proprietor of Crystal Springs Lake.
Funeral services for Mrs. Christine Bivian Watkins, 92, will be Wednesday, May 2, 2018, at the Cathedral of Praise Church of God in Gadsden, Alabama. Visitation will be from noon to 2 p.m. Funeral service will follow at 2 p.m.
Mrs. Watkins, more lovingly known as "Memaw," entered into heaven on Sunday, April 29, 2018, due to the wonderful grace of God and her faith alone in the Lord Jesus Christ. The Rev. Mike Cleckler, the Rev. Julian Knight, and the Rev. Jan Stanley will be officiating.
Christine was a native of Etowah County, Alabama. She was a devoted wife and an equally devoted mother of six children. She married Mack Miller Watkins in 1940. He preceded her in death in 1967. They devoted their life to establishing a spiritual foundation for their family. In doing so, she was a faithful member of the Alabama City Church of God in Gadsden for over 92 years.
Along with her husband, she was also preceded in death by her parents, Carl and Ethel Bowen, as well as her siblings: Walter Carl Bowen, Ada Holloway, Lucille Cleveland, Betty Hoskins. Her surviving sibling is Idora Burger.
She is survived by her children: Barbara Robinson, Linda Robinson, Bill (Donna) Watkins, Garry (Jane) Watkins, Bobby (Ginger) Watkins, and Tammy (Paul) Parris.
She is also survived by her grandchildren: Bivian Owens, Cheryl Slade, Carl Owens, Robin (Victor) Paschal, Billy Watkins, Derrick Watkins, Blake Watkins, Jennifer (Jay) Bowman, Barbie Watkins, Tyler (Julia) Parris, Dustin Watkins, Tori (Matthew) Parris Stigile, and Kiahna Watkins. Her great-grandchildren are: Michael Slade, Rick Paschal, Christine Slade, Bradley Paschal, Harper Paschal, Olivia Slade, Logan Watkins, Jackson Bowman, Anna Kate Bowman, and Christopher Owens.
Pallbearers will be: Michael Slade, Carl Owens, Billy Watkins, Derrick Watkins, Blake Watkins, Rick Paschal, Tyler Parris, Logan Watkins, and Matthew Stigile. Honorary pallbearers will be all previous lifeguards of Crystal Springs Lake.
The family wishes to express their gratitude to Dr. Judith Quillon, the administrative and medical staff of the Coosa Valley Health Care, Gadsden Health and Rehab, nurses: Brittany and Tina, David Lipscomb, and a host of special nieces and nephews.
If you wish to honor Mrs. Christine Watkins, live to glorify God daily, spend holidays with all your extended family, cherish summertime, play as many beach volleyball games as possible, keep your pool or lake clean of moss and ready to swim in at all times, have the most beautiful flower garden on the block, eat ice cream daily, Clorox everything, treat all people with dignity and respect, and if you so desire, you may make a donation in her memory to Cathedral of Praise or Big Oak Ranch.
Thank you everyone! I feel this picture captured Memaw well. Always working...
