Betty Jo Watkins

TUSCALOOSA – Betty Jo Watkins, age 75, of Tuscaloosa, died October 13, 2017, at DCH Regional Medical Center. Services will be 1 p.m. Sunday, October 15, 2017, at Heritage Chapel Funeral Home with Pastor Tim Lovett of Calvary Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens with Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, directing. Visitation will be hour prior to services at the funeral home.

Survivors include her husband, Edwin Price Watkins (who retired from The Tuscaloosa News) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.; daughter, Lisa Fain Josey of Mountain Brook, Ala. (Howard); son, Gary Edwin Watkins of Gainsville, Ga. (Michelle); niece, Linda Maxwell (Pete); grandchildren, Jennifer Mallay Fain, John Mark Fain, Jr., William Harris Josey, Gary Justin Watkins (Nicole) and Travis Edwin Watkins; and step grandchildren, Clint Wells (Isbell), Mandy Rusch (Adrian) and Jacob Jamison.

Betty Jo Watkins, age 75, went to be with our Lord on October 13, 2017. B.J. as she was called by many loved God first, truly loved her family and wonderful friends and was a shining light of humor and happiness.

B.J. and her husband, Edwin Watkins, would have been married 60 years on March 31, 2018.

She was a member of Calvary Baptist Church over 50 years where she sang in Choir, member of the WMU and taught Sunday school for many years.

B.J. was President from 2012 – 2013 at the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club. She also received the Walter Zeller Award. It represents the saving of at least 600 lives through providing vaccinations for neonatal tetanus to women of childbearing age. Every child born to each of the vaccinated women will be protected at birth from infection with tetanus. A gift in Betty Jo's honor provided the shots.

Pallbearers will be John Mark Fain, William Harris Josey, Travis Edwin Watkins, Gary Justin Watkins, Wayne Ford and John Burroughs.

Honorary pallbearers are the members of the Tuscaloosa Kiwanis Club

In Lieu of flowers the family suggests that donations be made to the American Cancer Society.

Condolences may be made at www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com.