Ludie Watkins

I just received word of the passing away of our friend and CPA Ludie Watkins in Clinton, SC. Ludie has helped us in many ways, and I'm grateful for him and his life. I'm going to miss his cheery business voice on the phone. He was a lifelong believer in Christ Jesus and played the organ at New Prospect Baptist Church in Laurens, SC, for forty-eight years. Ludie was also a fixture at the Laurens SCV meetings.

My friend and now my parents' pastor, Phil Bryson, conducted the funeral, which I am told was conducted in full Confederate period dress. One of the pallbearers is also a good friend, Scott Barker. He was on my hall when I was a resident assistant on Georgia Hall first floor at Presbyterian College way back when.

S. Ludie Watkins

Date:

July 18th, 1943 - September 4th, 2009

Obituary:

Samuel Ludie Watkins, beloved husband, father, grandfather and son, passed away September 4, 2009 at St. Francis Hospital in Greenville after a courageous battle with cancer. Ludie was a graduate of Furman University with a degree in Business Administration. He was a practicing Certified Public Accountant with an office at Clinton. He was a member of South Carolina Association of Certified Public Accountants and also a member of the National Association of Certified Public Accountants. He was also an active member of Sons of Confederate Veterans having served as Commander of Samuel McGowan Camp #40. He was a civil war reenactor with McBeth’s Light Artillery. He enjoyed music and spent 48 years as organist at New Prospect Baptist Church. He was a member of Beaverdam Baptist Church. Surviving are his wife, Mary Lee Ricketts Watkins; two daughters, Beth (Chad) Thomas of Clarksville, GA and Sarah (Phalen) Satterfield of Ocala, FL. He considered his sons-in-law as sons. Five granddaughters, Hannah, Morgan and Ella Thomas and Peyton and Emma Claire Sattterfield. He is also survived by his mother and father, Charles and Nell Tinman of Laurens. He was preceded in death by his father, J. L. Watkins and his brother, William Pinson (Billy) Watkins and his grandson Samuel Watkins Satterfield. Funeral services will be 3:00 PM Sunday, September 6, 2009 at New Prospect Baptist Church conducted by Rev. Phil Bryson, Mr. Gary Davis and Rev. Josh Culbertson with interment in the Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Scott Barker, Randy Simpson, Mark Simpson, Tom Sawyer, David West, John Lane, and Calvin Owings. McBeth’s Light Artillery will fire authentic Civil War Cannon at the cemetery.

Memorials:

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Beaverdam Baptist Church Building Fund, 1555 Beaverdam Church Road, Mountville, SC 29370 or New Prospect Baptist Church, 4996 Hwy 221 S, Laurens, SC 29360.

Services:

3:00PM at New Prospect Baptist Church on Sunday, September 6th, 2009 (map/driving directions)

Cemetery:

New Prospect Baptist Church Cemetery 4996 Highway 221 South Laurens, SC 29360 (map/driving directions)