Laura Watkins

Laura Denise White was born on December 8th 1963 to Larry White and (now) Sheila Bozeman.  Laura’s brother Jesse “Jay Bird” White soon followed.  Perhaps her brother Jay’s multiple disabilities was the seed for Laura’s remarkable and defining trait of unconditional love.

At age five Laura and Jay were introduced to a special woman, Eleanor White, “Mom”, who loved Laura and Jay as if she had carried and birthed them herself. Perhaps this nourished another trait that defined Laura, her ability to love and pour into the lives of children that she had not birthed. All of Laura’s siblings (and later nieces and nephews) were beneficiaries of this remarkable trait.

Full throttle. That was the way Laura loved each of her younger brothers and sisters.  Laura is preceded in death by her brother Keith Brooks.  Laura’s sisters, Kristin Huey, Donna  Belanger, and Lisa Schwartz, dearly miss their amazing big  “Sissy” /Lolly” and long for one more sassy-Laura- look.  Through the years, and even through illness, Laura steadfastly communicated her love to her family.

At the age of eighteen, Laura met the love of her life, Michael Timothy (“Tim”/“Timmy”) Watkins. Decked out in blue jeans and cowboy boots, this gorgeous gal stole Tim’s heart at first sight. Laura and Timmy. Timmy and Laura. Like peanut butter and jelly-from that time forward they just went together; rarely was one name spoken without the other. Married thirty-eight years in February, their marriage is a beautifully honest testimony to unconditional love.

After their wedding in February 1983, the number of kids who became recipients of Laura’s attention and affection grew to include her nieces and nephews on Tim’s side of the family.  For almost two decades Laura and Tim’s pad was the center of orbit for her younger siblings and the many nieces and nephews. During those years, entertaining or more often, refereeing between five or six kids at once was the norm at their house.

A lover of music, Laura, would often cook and clean while listening to classic rock. If Led Zeppelin (or the like) was blaring when Tim came home from work, he knew he’d have a good dinner.

Laura passed her love of music on to her beloved Gabe.  After twenty years of loving every child and teenager within reach, Laura and Tim received the best gift of their lives, GABE.  Michael Gabriel Watkins was born on February 12th, 2003.  Never in the history of the world was a child more wanted or more loved than Gabe.  When he was a baby, Laura and Tim would turn off the tv, lay their miracle baby in the middle of the floor, and focus all of their attention on him as he slept.  Tim jokes that Gabe was their first wide screen television.  Although no one thought it possible, as Gabe grew so did Laura’s love for him.  Smart, talented and kind.  Gabe, your mama was so very proud of you.

In the early morning hours of November 11th, 2020, Laura, beloved, wife, mother, daughter, sister, cousin, aunt, and friend, passed into eternity.  As always, her Timmy was at her side as Laura took her last breath.  May their devotion to each other and unconditional love for so many inspire us all.

On November 16th a small family ceremony will be held in Columbus, Georgia. (COVID makes this a smaller ceremony than we’d otherwise have).  A graveside ceremony will also be held at two o’clock in the afternoon at Leesburg Cemetery in Leesburg, Georgia.

In lieu of flowers , if led, please make a donation to a children’s charity of your choice.  Laura especially loved St Jude Children’s Research Hospital. More than anything we appreciate your prayers.