Nathan Ray Watkins (CUMMING, Ga.)

CUMMING, Ga. - Mr. Nathan Ray Watkins, age 90, formerly of Williston, S.C., passed away Wednesday, December 17, 2008. Mr. Watkins was a devoted and loving husband and father. Mr. Watkins served in the First Army during World War II at Normandy. He came home to work at Dupont until his retirement in 1989 Mr. Watkins was an active member of First Baptist Church of Williston, S.C., for many, many years where he served as a deacon and taught the men's Sunday School Class. Mr. Watkins was a Gideon and loved to go into the jail each week to hand out Bibles and minister to the prisoners. He was also a big supporter of The Friends of Israel. Mr. Watkins committed his whole life to sharing the Gospel with everyone he came in contact with. He never met a person without sharing with them how they could know Jesus Christ. He was preceded in death by his parents, Grover and Grace Watkins. He was married for 66 years to the former Betty Clyde McCurley, now deceased. Survivors include: sons, Frank and Bob Watkins; daughters, Jo Prince and Jean Ridgeway; seven grandchildren and thirteen great grandchildren. Funeral services will be 11 a.m. on Monday, December 22nd at Byars Funeral Home in Cumming, Ga., with Rev. Mike Schmidt and Rev. Brad Waters officiating. Friends and family are welcome at Byars Funeral Home from 5-8 p.m. on Sunday, December 21st. Interment service will be Monday, December 22nd at 1 p.m. at Georgia National Cemetery in Canton, Ga. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to The Gideons International, P.O. Box 140800, Nashville, TN 37214 or The Friends of Israel, P.O. Box 908, Bellmawr, NJ 08099 Sign the guestbook at AugustaChronicle.com

The Augusta Chronicle-December 20, 2008