Gladys Mae Watkins

Psalms 90:10, "...if we are strong, 80 years," this verse is the epitome of Gladys Mae Watkins! Mom was called to her eternal home on December 13, 2020, at 6:01 pm, after fighting a tremendous fight for three plus years. Gladys Mae, the youngest of thirteen children born to Gladys Law and William Watkins, was born on September 27, 1940, in Pulaski, Virginia. She moved to the New York area at an early age and eventually settled in the city of New Rochelle, outside of New York City. Gladys Mae enlisted in the army, where she trained to be a medic. After being honorably discharged, she worked at several hospitals in the New York area, ultimately retiring as a home aid. As a mother, Mae was extremely devoted to her son, whom she adored and loved with all her heart. Mae worked hard and sacrificed to provide her son William with a good upbringing and strong foundation that was built on her firm faith in God and the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses. Throughout her life, Mae was very independent and strong-willed. She described herself as "a leader and not a follower." She loved to spend time talking to her friends, family, and telling her Doctors, "what they could do and where they could do it!" Her love, humor, sarcasm, wit, affection, appreciation, consideration, and Go Army Fighting spirit were prevalent in everything she did, right up to her last breath. Gladys Mae Watkins leaves behind to mourn her loss, a beloved son, William Watkins (Faye Watkins); a sister, Mary Katherine Greene of New Rochelle, NY; two brothers, Robert Mills Watkins of Edison, NJ, and George Alton Watkins of Oakland, NJ; a host of nieces, nephews, extended relatives, and friends. Mae was preceded in death by her parents, Gladys Law and William Watkins, Sr., and siblings, Law, Thomas, William Glenn, Eilieen, William Law, Chester Lee, Louis, Clara Bow Adams, and Wilma Reavis.