Richard Cecil Watkins

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Richard Cecil Watkins, age 91, of Wilkesboro, NC, passed away peacefully at his home on June 22, 2025. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 PM Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at Reins-Sturdivant Chapel with Rev. William Fulp, Rev. Richard Watts and Rev. Wayne Harris officiating.  The family will receive friends from 11:30 AM until 12:45 PM prior to the service at Reins-Sturdivant Funeral Home.  A private burial will be held at a later date.

He was born on November 16, 1933, in Wilkes County to Emily Cecil Watkins.

Richard graduated from Lincoln Heights High School and then joined the U.S. Army, where he was stationed at Ft. Carson in Colorado during the Korean War. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Wilkes and married Ann Dora Cockerham.

He was a faithful member of Beulah Presbyterian Church and attended as long as his health allowed, at one point achieving perfect attendance for four consecutive years. Richard was a man of few words but showed his love for the church and the community through his acts of service and duty.

Richard was employed by Northwestern Bank and the Town of Wilkesboro and was a proud volunteer member of the Wilkesboro Fire Department. He was also known to help his uncles at Gray Brothers.

In his younger days, Richard enjoyed fishing, gardening, woodworking, and being outdoors. He loved the outdoors so much that, after his retirement, he started mowing lawns to have something to do; at one time, he was mowing over 16 lawns. He continued mowing five lawns until the age of 90. In addition to these activities, one of his greatest joys was watching his great-grandchildren play in the yard whenever they came to visit. He was also affectionately known by many as “The Mayor.”

He was preceded in death by his mother, Emily Cecil Watkins Forte, and his sister, Ethel Watkins Tabor, “Shangie.” He leaves to cherish his memory and celebrate his life his wife of 60 years, Ann C. Watkins; his daughter, Emily (Marvin) Todd of Kannapolis; daughter, Adina C. Watkins of Wilkesboro; granddaughters, Janissa R. Todd and Alexa N. Todd of Kannapolis, NC; great-grandchildren Layla Harris and David (DJ) Harris; sister, Lori Forte Kirkland; nephew, Mark Tabor (Ann); niece, Tracy Tabor; brothers-in-law, Lee E. Cockerham, Harry (Lisa) Cockerham, James (Beverley) Cockerham, sister-in-law, Myra (Toni) Cockerham, a host of nephews, nieces and cousins as well as members of Beulah Presbyterian Church and members of Men In Christ.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beulah Presbyterian Church, 110 Sparta Road, North Wilkesboro, NC 28659 or to Mountain Valley Hospice & Palliative Care, PO Box 325, Mt. Airy, NC 27030.

Online condolences may be made to www.reinssturdivant.com.

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