Theresa A. Watkins

COLUMBIA – A memorial service for Theresa Ann “Tess” Watkins will be held at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 28, 2017 with Deacon David Thompson officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. Memorials may be made to Pets, Inc., 300 Orchard Dr., West Columbia, SC 29170 or a charity of one’s choosing.

Mrs. Watkins was born in Ireland Army Hospital in Fort Knox, Kentucky and passed away on Monday, January 23, 2017. She was the daughter of the late Albert Julian Lawson, Jr. and Angela Leona Rossi Lawson. Mrs. Watkins was a member of the Garden Club of SC where she was a judge, as well as past Vice President, and a member of the Eastern Star. She participated in flower shows at the State Fair, for which she won ribbons. Some of Tess’s loves included shopping, cheeseburgers, crocheting, her cats, cooking and reading. She loved her grandson, and was especially fond of being called “Nana”. She always made sure her grandson had a cookie in his hands.

Tess was known as “the crazy cat lady”. She always took in a stray, especially kittens. She nursed them by hand as babies, and they grew into gigantic size cats.

Mrs. Watkins is survived by her better half, Gary Watkins of Columbia; daughter, Anna Lawson (John Nabors) of Lexington; brothers, Anthony (Sandra) Lawson of Fancy Gap, VA and Timothy (Tammy) Lawson of Timmonsville and grandson, Jackson Nabors of Lexington.

Elmwood Funeral Home and Cremation is assisting the family with arrangements.