Sara K. Watkins

Sara Kelly Watkins (affectionately known as “Bootsie”), age 81, passed away peacefully in Ponte Vedra, Florida, on March 10, 2021. Born June 10, 1939 in Savannah, Georgia to Carroll Jennings Kelly and Sara Elizabeth Milner Kelly, Sara was an only child.

She lived in Savannah, Georgia where she met the love of her life at Bull Street Baptist Church, Talmadge Billy Watkins. She and Bill were married on August 22, 1959, and had three children, Janet W. Talley, Lynn W. Martin, and Keith E. Watkins. After graduating from Savannah High School in 1957, she attended Armstrong State College to pursue a nursing career, stopping short of completing her degree. Sara drove the school bus for Calvary Baptist Day School and later Savannah Christian Preparatory School, to pay for her children’s tuition. In 1980, Sara began working as an Administrative Assistant for Smith Service Oil, retiring in 1994. After moving to the Watkins’ homestead in Grovetown, Georgia a year later, Sara and Bill made their final residence in Ponte Vedra, Florida in 2014.

In Savannah, Sara was a member of Bull Street Baptist Church, where she sang alto in the Sanctuary choir and drove the church bus and van. Sara also sang in the Sanctuary and Senior Choirs at the First Baptist Church of Augusta. She had several hobbies. She loved to paint and several of her paintings hung in her mother’s home for years. She was an avid bowler winning a trophy for the highest set bowled, and her team called the “Unpredictables” won the championship in the Women’s International Bowling Congress.

Sara was also a talented seamstress and often made dresses for her and her two daughters. At her home in Starling Assisted Living, Sara was a crafty Bingo player being crowned the “Bingo Queen.” Sara also played Rummikub every week with several of her friends. She was an avid cross-word puzzle enthusiast, and spent her other free time reading mystery novels, including Agatha Christie, Mary Higgins Clark and John Grisham. Sara also loved watching college sports, Gunsmoke, Perry Mason, Judge Judy, and soap operas. Sara had a sharp wit and enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her five grandsons. She also loved watching the deer, racoons, turkeys and squirrels who would wander into her backyard at her home in Grovetown. Sara had a fighting spirit and always rooted for the underdog. She will be greatly missed by all.

Surviving Sara are her two daughters, Janet W. Talley (Steve), Lynn W. Martin (Kerry), one son, Keith E. Watkins (Donna), five grandsons, Christopher R. Martin, Austin C. Martin, Matthew S. Talley, Michael P. Talley, and Gregory K. Watkins, one sister, Janice W. W. Brewer (John), and many nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends. Preceding her in death were her husband, Talmadge Billy Watkins, her mother, Sara Elizabeth Kelly, and father, Carroll Jennings Kelly.

Visitation will begin at 12:00 p.m., on Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Hardage- Giddens Oaklawn Chapel, 4801 San Jose Boulevard, 32207, followed by a memorial service at 1:00 p.m., and a reception immediately following the service.

To view the livestream of the service please visit: https://youtu.be/KkBosjmDbws or https://youtu.be/XIp9O1wAi7E.