SERVICE:     Sunday, October 1, 2023

Fairfield Baptist Church-Moselle

4:00 p.m.

INTERMENT:     Fairfield Baptist Church Cemetery

VISITATION:     Sunday, October 1, 2023

Fairfield Baptist Church

2:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Services will be held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, October 1, 2023, in the Fairfield Baptist Church of Moselle for Mrs. Ellen Jean Watkins of Moselle. Bro. Ramsey Coutta will officiate with burial to follow in the Fairfield Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Justin McKinion, Aaron McKinion, Michael Watkins, Jared Watkins, Richard Richardson and Justin Buckley.

Ellen Jean Stringer Watkins, age 90, passed away on September 27, 2023 at Asbury Hospice House of Hattiesburg, MS. She was born on August 25, 1933 along with her twin sister, Bettye Jane Stringer Jefcoat in Taylorsville, MS to Eula Ainsworth and Selonee Stringer. She married the love of her life, Francis Julian Watkins on August 20, 1955.

She was a graduate of Taylorsville High School and attended nursing school at South Mississippi Charity Hospital in Laurel, MS becoming a registered nurse. Ellen was a compassionate and caring nurse for several years at Jones Community Hospital, Forrest General Hospital, Brandon Hospital, and the Baptist Hospital.

Ellen enjoyed working in her yard. At 90 years old she still dug holes to plant her flowers with a post hole digger. She loved to decorate her house and yard for all the holiday seasons. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, great-great-grandmother, sister and aunt.

Ellen was a faithful member of First Baptist Church in Pearl, MS where she was a director for the Women's Missionary Union (WMU) for several years and participated in Sunday School and Girl's in Action (GA's). Upon moving to Moselle, MS in 2013 Ellen and Julian joined Fairfield Baptist Church where they attended faithfully.

Ellen is survived by her four children, Raymond Mitchell Watkins (Gloria) of Petal, MS, Craig Michael Watkins (Kim) of Pelahatchie, MS, Beverly Watkins Richardson (Ricky) of Moselle, MS and Karen Watkins Switzer (Byron) of Mendenhall, MS, ten grandchildren, twenty great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; sisters, Bobbie Stringer Tanner of Laurel, MS and Mary Stringer Thomas of Brandon, MS; sisters-in-law, Nelda Watkins Ulmer of Jackson and Robbie Calhoun Watkins of Melbourne, FL and a host of nieces and nephews.

Ellen was predeceased by her husband, Francis Julian Watkins; parents, Eula Ainsworth Stringer and Selonee Stringer and in-laws, Mike B. Watkins and Agnes Hinton Watkins; her sisters and their husbands, LaNelle Stringer Gatewood (Charlie), Loraine Stringer Hards (Elmer) and Bettye Stringer Jefcoat (Dale); her brother, Roland Collette Stringer; her brother-in-law, Rooney Weaver Tanner, Doc Jefferson (DJ) Thomas and her niece, Mildred (Millie) Jane Gatewood Colquitt.

The family would like to thank the staff of Forrest General Hospital and Asbury Hospice for their wonderful care.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214-0800 or www.gideons.org.

Jones and Son Funeral Home of Moselle is in charge of services.