Jerry Tay Watkins

Jerry Tay Watkins, a native Atlantan, was born on December 28, 1937 and passed away peacefully on September 1, 2015 surrounded by his loving family. He was 77 years old. He was preceded in death by his parents Mildred and Melvin Watkins, his brother Jim Watkins and his daughter Kelly Watkins.

Jerry attended E. Rivers Elementary School on Peachtree Battle, Northside High School, Georgia State University, and graduated from the John Marshall Law School. Later, Jerry moved to Belleair, Florida, where he worked for the Parker Pen Company for 14 years. He enjoyed golfing, traveling, and antique collecting as well as challenging friends and family to ping-pong tournaments and enjoying loud and soulful music with his many friends. Jerry was generous and open-hearted, and never met a stranger—only a new friend.

Jerry is survived by his loving wife, Margaret Dickinson Watkins (professionally known as Margot King), sister Dorothy Rainwater, daughters Laurie Daniel, Juliette Watkins Davis, Sloan Watkins Schnell, Margaret Overton Darby; grandchildren Taylor, Landon, Mason, Tate, Ty, Daniel; nephews Wesley Watkins, Randy Watkins, Jimmy Watkins, Clay Bryan III, Dan Overton Paty, and nieces Denise Griffin, Katherine Bryan Fichthorn, Katy Paty Veal and lastly, by his beloved dogs Dottie and Ziggy.

Jerry’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service held on Friday, September 4, 2015 at 11 a.m., at Patterson’s Oglethorpe Hill (4550 Peachtree Rd, Brookhaven, GA, 30319) with a visitation beginning at 10 a.m. The family will receive family and friends at the Watkins home afterwards. In lieu of flowers the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association (225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601) or the American Heart Association (4217 Park Place Ct., Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979).