Patsy Ann Watkins

RALEIGH - Patsy grew up in Raleigh and always loved Raleigh and watching it change and grow. She loved going to Sunday School and church, babysitting, selling home-grown vegetables in her neighborhood and any odd job to make extra money. Her first “real job” was when she was in high school selling jewelry at Hudson-Belk on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh; she always loved meeting people and talking to them and she loved jewelry and anything that sparkled, so it was a perfect job for her. Patsy was a graduate of Hugh Morson High School and Peace College, where she was on the Dean’s List and the Honor Roll, her favorite classes being Bible and English. After graduating from Peace, she worked for attorney Allen Langston. Her next job was in the Chancellor’s Office at State College, now North Carolina State University. She then went to the City of Raleigh, where she worked for the City Manager and the members of the City Council at the same time. Throughout her career with the City, she worked for three City Managers. In 1963, her second year at the City, she was honored as the Employee of the Year. Patsy was always a stickler for correct grammar, being kind and doing what was right. She was always willing to help anyone in need, share a positive word of encouragement and pitch in to help whenever she could. She had a lot of friends of all ages, especially loved little children and teaching 6th grade Sunday School. She enjoyed trying new recipes and her poundcake and pecan pies were legendary and prize-winning. She would freeze, can, pickle and make jams and jellies all summer long to have quicker meals in winter. On September 15, 1956, Patsy married Marvin Daniel Watkins, the boy next door and across the street. His mother used to buy butterbeans from her and tell him what a smart girl she was. Their first date was to get ice cream. Patsy was Pine State Creamery’s Dairy Princess, so ice cream was appropriate. They got engaged on Class Day at Peace College when Patsy was a senior. Patsy loved trips to the North Carolina mountains, beaches in North and South Carolina, and Williamsburg, Virginia. She enjoyed amusement parks, reading, word puzzles, sunrises, good coffee, shopping, decorating for every holiday, Wolfpack basketball and football, playing the organ and singing, especially her favorite hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” She always had a friendly and outgoing personality, always looked for the best in others and her smile and pretty blue eyes lit up a room. She was predeceased by her husband of 64 years, Marvin Daniel Watkins, on June 15, 2020, and is survived by their daughter, Marva Ann, who is broken-hearted at the loss of her best friend. It is of great comfort knowing that the family will be together one day with Jesus in Heaven. A graveside service will be held on Monday, February 28, 2022, at 11:00 a.m., at Oakwood Cemetery, 701 Oakwood Avenue, in Raleigh. In lieu of flowers, contributions in memory of Patsy may be made to Meredith College, 3800 Hillsborough Street, Raleigh, NC 27607. Funeral arrangements are by Bryan-Lee Funeral Home of Raleigh. Online condolences may be made at www.bryan-leefuneralhome.com