Rev. Coleman Marion Watkins

REV. COLEMAN MARION WATKINS

BISHOPVILLE---Rev. Coleman Marion Watkins, 76, went to be with the Lord while preaching on Sunday morning, Nov. 8.  Funeral services will be held on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 11 a.m. at St. John United Methodist Church at Spring Hill in Lee County, with the Rev. Lawrence Chewning and the Rev. Francie King officiating.  The church address is 3919 Spring Hill Road, Rembert, S.C.  Burial will follow in the church cemetery directed by Norton Funeral Home, Bishopville.

Born in Bishopville on April 19, 1944, he was the youngest child of Robert Leon and Tincy Steen Watkins.  Rev. Watkins served for the past 33 years as pastor of Zion Southern Methodist Church in Mullins.  He has also pastored churches in Lee, Chesterfield, and Sumter counties and was dedicated to preaching the Gospel to countless individuals and officiating at numerous weddings, funerals, and baptisms.  Remembered for his humor, he never met a stranger and enjoyed people.

He also served with the S.C. National Guard and worked for the former Reeves Brothers, Bishopville Finishing Division.  He dearly loved his family, including his wife of 56 years, Cynthia Hancock Watkins.

Besides his loving wife, his family include his son, Dr. Raymond Marion (Michelle) Watkins of Bishopville; two daughters, Jennifer Anita (Steve) Farmer of Bishopville and Cynthia Loretta (Fred) Wrigley of Chapin; 9 grandchildren, Roman (Bethany) Garner, Gretta Cole, Andrew (Jaunna) Cole, Miranda Farmer, Breanna Cole, Brittany Cole, Timothy Farmer, Steven Farmer, Ashley Wrigley; 3 great-grandchildren, Abby Lackey, Rhett Farmer, Liam Brown; 2 step-grandchildren, Amanda Combs and Leonard Wrigley, 2nd Lieutenant, U.S. Army Reserves; son-in-law, Todd Cole of Dalzell; 2 sisters-in-law, Mary Watkins of Bishopville and Mary (Bootsie) Watkins of Rembert.

He was predeceased by a sister, Geneva Ward; and brothers, Samuel, Billy, Harvey, and George Watkins.

Everyone is ask to wear a mask and follow Covid19 guidlines as much as possible.

The funeral service will be streamlined on Norton Facebook for those who cannot attend the service.

Norton Funeral Home is honored to serve the Watkins family.