Rev. James Vernon Watkins

REV. JAMES VERNON WATKINS, age 81, of Cornelia, GA, died Sunday, November 30, 2008 at the Habersham County Medical Center. Rev. Watkins was born on March 24, 1927 in Hall County, Georgia to the late Ernest and Lennie Lovell Watkins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brothers, Roy, Lewis and Ray Watkins. Rev. Watkins was a United States Army Air Force veteran having served in the 626th Warning Squad as an Air Craft Controller. He was retired from Chicopee Manufacturing/Ethicon with 35 years of service and also was formerly employed with Gainesville Mill with 10 years of service. Rev. Watkins was a Minister of the Gospel having pastored for over 50 years. He pastored five different churches and was the District Pastor in the Congregational Holiness Church Association. Rev. Watkins was the Associate Pastor for 26 years at Zion Interdenominational Church where he was also a member and a deacon. Survivors include: his wife: Ada Mae Glaze Watkins, Cornelia, GA; his daughter: Dr. Miriam Watkins, Jupiter, FL; his son and daughter-in-law: James Ezra Watkins and Victoria Wang, Oahu, Hawaii; his sisters-in-law: Virginia Watkins and Freida Watkins, both of Gainesville, GA; his brothers: Bradford Watkins and Loy Watkins, both of Gainesville, GA; his grandchildren: Victor Watkins, Christopher Loo, Elizabeth Loo, and Meridith Loo. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, December 5, 2008 from the Zion Interdenominational Church with Rev. Gary Hefner, Rev. Tony Evans, and Rev. Ronald Mote officiating. Rev. Watkins will be placed in the church at 1:30 p.m. on Friday to lie in state until the funeral hour. Interment will follow in the Zion Interdenominational Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends at the Whitfield Funeral Home, South Chapel, Baldwin, Georgia from 2 until 4 and 7 until 9 p.m. on Thursday. ARRANGEMENTS ARE IN THE CARE OF WHITFIELD FUNERAL HOME, SOUTH CHAPEL, BALDWIN, GEORGIA.