Mrs. Julia Beth "Judy" Watkins

Funeral services for Mrs. Julia (Judy) Watkins, 86, of New Salem, will be at 2:00 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023 at Crawford-A. Crim Funeral Home chapel with Brother Chris Proctor officiating. Interment will follow at New Salem Cemetery under the direction of Crawford - A. Crim Funeral Home of Henderson. Visitation will be from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023 at the funeral home. Mrs. Watkins passed away Sunday, Sept. 17, 2023, in a Tyler hospital. She was born Sept. 30, 1936 to the late Oscar and Grace (Sharp) Cassity. Julia answered to many names: "Sister Judy," "Mother," "Judy" by her friends, "Grannie" by her grandchildren, and "Miss Judy" by the many children in the community whom she picked up for church each Sunday morning for Sunday School. She was a pillar of the New Salem community as well as in the New Salem Missionary Baptist Church. Judy graduated from Henderson High School, and married Jack Paul Watkins in 1954. Judy was a seamstress at Fitchene Manufacturing; worked as an assistant at Louise Jacks Insurance; was a Manager of Main Street Gallery; and a clerk at The Curious Wren. She was a volunteer at the Hospice of East Texas Thrift Shop. In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by her infant daughter Paula Beth Watkins; brothers, John and Joe Cassity; sisters, Virginia Bassett and Mary Mauritzen; brothers-in-law, Kenneth Mauritzen and Danny Pope. Survivors include: daughter Julianna Brightwell and husband Charles of Henderson, sons, Jerry Watkins and wife Debbie of Longview, and Joel Watkins and wife Denise of Reklaw; sister Dian Pope of Waxahachie; brother-in-law Mack Bassett of Henderson; sisters-in-law, Danny Sue Cassity of Henderson, and Judy Cassity of Longview; 12 grandchildren and numerous great and great-great-grandchildren; surrogate granddaughter Kaycie Grams, and special friends, Eddie Arnold and wife Cindy, and Betty Gibson. Pallbearers are Brandon Welch, Curtis Brightwell, Jason Brightwell, Victor Ortiz, Jerrod Watkins, Brian Jones, Chase May, Judson Watkins, Ryan McCoy, Grant Jones, Cortland Jones, and Shane Stone. Memorial contributions may be made to the New Salem Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 2284, Henderson, TX 75653, or to the New Salem Cemetery, c/o Linda Simmons, 15788, CR 4253, Henderson, TX 75654. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at www.crawfordacrim.com.

Mrs. Julia Beth "Judy" Watkins

September 30, 1936 - September 17, 2023