Marina Nathilee Watts

After her mother passed in 1944, Marina grew up under the care of her aunt, Ethel Townsend.

As a young adult, Marina traveled to England to attend nursing school where received her RN and certification in midwifery.

While in England, Marina met and married Leroy Anthony Watts on May 31, 1958. From their union, they had 3 children; Richard Anthony, Jacqueline Theresa and Mark Anthony. At the age of 2, Marina and Leroy lost their youngest child Mark to pneumonia. From Richard and Jaqueline, Marina was blessed with 6 grandchildren (Nicole, Syreeta, Anthony, Ashley, Alicia & Britenee), 7 great-grandchildren (Dejah, David, Deven, Evan, Amaya, Jordan & Solei), and 1 great-great grandson, Michael III. Marina held her position as “Queenie” over her family, loving and nurturing with a firm but gentle hand.

Marina later traveled to New York to further her nursing education and career. She worked at various hospitals and nursing homes. She spent over 30 years working for Montefiore Hospital on Rikers Island until her retirement.

Marina moved to Ocala, Florida in 2001 where she lived out the remaining years of her life. Marina was an active member of the Silver Springs Shore Seventh-Day Adventist Church, now known as Hope Springs SDA. She dedicated time to community service duties, volunteer activities and also served as a deaconess. She loved the Lord with all her heart. Marina wrote down her favorite scriptures and sermon notes in her many notebooks, Bibles and hymnals.

In her free time, Marina loved to travel, garden, and spend time with her family. One of her many passions was crotchet, she was always with a needle and roll of yarn making a shawl, a little purse, or a colorful square that would become a blanket for a family member or friend. She was detail oriented, and very specific on how things should be done. She was a planner, and an organizer who was prepared at all times, even for her last moments here with us.

In the words of her children “She lived her life her way, no questions about that.”

Marina was loved and supported by her family until her very last moments. She is preceded in death by her son, Mark Anthony, her mother, father, 6 brothers, and her husband. She leaves behind her sisters, Doris and Joan; her children, Richard and Jacqueline; her grands, great-grands, great-great grand, and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews, as well as a host of extended family and friends that she loved dearly.