Cecil William Watkins, Sr.

Hartsville, SC

Celebration of Life services for Cecil William Watkins, Sr. age 78 will be held 3:00pm Wednesday at Welsh Neck Baptist Church in Society Hill, SC.  Rev. Daryl Davids, Rev. Gene Feagin and Rev. Corinthia Mack will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery, services directed by Norton Funeral Home and Crematory.  Visitation will be held one hour prior to the services at the church.

Cecil passed away on Monday while at McLeod RMC in Florence, SC.  He was born in Kershaw, SC the son of the late Bennie Will and Sara Huntley Watkins.  He was a member of New Market United Methodist Church.  He graduated from Bishopville High School in 1962 and Clemson University in 1967.  He was a faithful IPTAY member for 50 years, he was an avid Clemson fan.  Cecil was retired from Sonoco Products Company after 42 years of service, he was South Carolina Jacee President in 1976 and was former director of SC Horseman Council.  He grew up appreciating hard work, working as a logger and with an asphalt crew as a young man.  He loved the outdoors, had a love for horseback riding, camping and mountain trips.  He loved spending time with family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife of 24 years, Kaye Edwards Watkins, Hartsville; son, Cecil William “Bill” Watkins, Jr. and his wife Susan, Bishopville; grandsons, William Payne Watkins, Russell Anderson Watkins, both of Bishopville; sister, Cynthia (Bill) Watkins Leaphart, Lexington; brother in law, Grady Strange, Lexington; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by a sister, Sandra Watkins Strange, brother, Marvin Watkins and infant sister, Glenda Watkins.

Memorials may be made to New Market UMC, 1921 West Old Camden Road, Hartsville, SC 29550 and/or Welsh Neck Baptist Church, 112 Church Street, Society Hill, SC 29593.

Norton Funeral Home and Crematory are honored to be of service to the Watkins family.

“A life so beautifully lived, should be beautifully remembered”