Marguerite Louise Gordon Watkins, 86 of Baton Rouge, LA formally of Helena, MS died July 9th, 2006 in Baton Rouge.
A native of Choudrant, LA, she graduated from Ouachita High School in Monroe, LA and then worked at the munitions plant in Karnac, TX during WWII. In 1952, she moved to Pinehaven (flower) Nursery and Tree Farm in Helena, MS. As a homemaker, she served as president of the Homemaker's Council and Helena Homemakers Club. She was also a 4-H leader, master arranger and judge. She was a member of Escatawpa Baptist Church and later attended the Helena Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School.
She was a charter member of the Pascagoula Writer's Unlimited, a former leader of the Southern Scribblers, member of the MS and LA State Poetry Societies, a member of the National Federation of State Poetry Societies and later was president of the South Branch Group of the MS Poets Society. In 1992, she co-authored """"Of Two Magnolias"""" with daughter Liz. She was never bored and attended MS Gulf Coast Jr. College at age 60.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Lee Watkins Sr.; her parents, Charles & Cecelia Bennett Gordon; and her sister, Bobbie Morgan. Survivors include two sons; Lee Watkins Jr. and Robert (Amelda) Watkins both of
Helena; one daughter, Liz (Sid) Ferguson of Baton Rouge, LA; one brother, Egbert Washington Gordon of Waskom, TX; five grandsons; Carl (Sharon) Ferguson of Bossier City, LA; Dr. K. Scott (Joan) Ferguson of Baton Rouge, LA; Darrell (Erin) Ferguson of St. Croix, V.I.; Wayne (Cris) Watkins and Hunter Watkins both of Helena; three granddaughters, Kim (Ricky) Green of Helena, Cindy (Robbie) Baggett of Mobile, AL, and Julie Watkins of Pascagoula; sixteen great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
Visitation will be Wednesday, July 12, 2006 from 9:00-11:00 am at the Helena First
Baptist Church. Funeral service will follow the visitation at 11:00am. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery, Helena.
Gulf Coast Funeral Homes, Inc. Three Rivers Rd. Chapel, Gulfport in charge of
arrangements and an online guestbook may be signed at www.gulfcoastfh.com.