Madelyn W. Watkinson

September 26, 1925 – May 20, 2018 Madelynn Whitehead Watkinson died peacefully on May 20, 2018 in Phoenix, Arizona, with her son Jim Watkinson by her side. She was 92 years old, and is survived by her five children, their partners, eleven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren. Madelynn was born on September 26, 1925 in New York City, and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. After serving in the Nurse Cadet Corps during WWII, she became the manager of a restaurant associated with the storied Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut, where she developed a lifelong passion for theater. After the death of her husband Bill, she retired to Williamsburg, Virginia to live with her daughter Barbara Watkinson and her family. In Virginia, Madelynn adopted the College of William and Mary’s Adams Garden near Colonial Williamsburg. For twenty-three years she worked as a volunteer to develop the garden into a peaceful oasis of flowers and blooming shrubs in the center of town. In the process she became known as the “Flower Lady of Williamsburg” and began gathering an army of admirers, as well as awards such as the 1993 Arbor Day Award from the Williamsburg Area Council of Garden Clubs for “outstanding contribution to environmental quality and community betterment.” She was known throughout the community from the city mayor, the College president, and the chief of police to the girls in the sorority residences near her garden. Locals and international visitors to Colonial Williamsburg sought her advice on gardening. A singular honor was the 1994 Prentis Award of the College of William and Mary for her “…strong civic involvement and support of the College.“ Later Madelynn moved to Silver Spring, Maryland to live near her son Wayne Watkinson and his family. There she returned to her abiding love of the theater by producing costumes for innumerable amateur productions. When sewing became too difficult and the grandchildren had graduated from college, she joined Jim and his wife in Arizona – in time to welcome her ninth great-grandchild into the world. In addition to her children Barbara, Jim, and Wayne, Madelynn is survived by her son Brian Watkinson of Maine and daughter Patricia Watkinson-Brock of Virginia. Contributions to the continuing care of Madelynn’s garden may be made to the College of William & Mary, P.O. Box 1693, Williamsburg, VA 23187 (checks should include “Adams Memorial Garden (0876 - in memory of Madelynn Watkinson”) or through <https://giving.wm.edu/give-now.html>.