Service Announcements

Novella C. Watkins

                                                                            Jan 1934 – July 2018

Novella C. Watkins (affectionately referred to as MaDear and eventually Nana) went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday July 24, 2018 surrounded by her family. Novella was born January 9, 1934 and raised in Thorpe, WV. She graduated from Gary District High School in Gary, WV where she was an avid cheerleader for the Gary Bulldogs.  She married Earnest Watkins on September 27, 1952 giving birth to four children.  She resided in Northfork, WV and began working as a Dental Assistant in Keystone, WV for Dr. Murray while attending Southern WV Business School and earning Certification in Business. She continued working as a Dental Assistant many years before working for Bank of America in international banking in Charlotte, NC until her retirement.  She and her husband Earnest then retired to Webster, NY where she resided until her death.

She accepted Christ at an early age and joined Thorpe Baptist Church as a child.  Later, she became a member of Mt. Ebenezer Baptist Church under the leadership of Rev. James Palmer and was the Wedding Coordinator and chairperson of the Sunday floral arrangement.  When she moved to Charlotte, NC, she joined Friendship Missionary Baptist Church where she was a member of the Lott Carey Missionary Society.  Upon moving to Webster, NY she joined Aenon Baptist Church while always remaining active in Friendship Baptist Church through mailings and telephone calls.

Civically, she was a member of the Iota Phi Lambada Sorority, the first African Business and Professional Women’s Organization in America, while residing in WV.  She later became a member of the National Association of Negro Business and Professional Women’s Club in Charlotte, NC and Rochester, NY where they provided impact on the community through leadership, entrepreneurship, technology and service.

She delighted in seeing her children achieve and traveled to New York City to see her son Keith perform in Grambling University marching band against Southern University.  She always played a record where Keith played the piano while Iris sang a gospel song.  She also watched Earnest and Peyton (aka Trell) in their various sporting activities.

She was preceded in death by her father, Roosevelt Carter, and mother, Iris Mae and her son, Terrance Keith Watkins. Novella leaves behind her husband Earnest P Watkins; sons Earnest R Watkins and his wife Kim from Wheeling, WV, Peyton Cottrell Watkins and his wife June from Penfield, NY and daughter Iris J Watkins of Pickerington, OH. Granddaughters Erica Barrett and her husband David from Lillington, NC and Shaina Watkins from College Park. Maryland; Grandsons Evan Watkins from Burlington, NC. and Maalik Watkins from Penfield, NY; and Great-grandsons Peyton, Colton, and Jayden.

Final funeral arrangements are being arranged through Long and Son Mortuary in Charlotte, NC. There will be a viewing an hour before the beginning of the funeral service at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church in Charlotte, NC.