WATKINS Photos

Below are photos of WATKINS family members and ancestors connected to the families in Our Carolina Roots. All are descendants of Edward "Ned" Watkins and his wife Catey, born in the mid-to-late 1700's. If you would like to submit more WATKINS photos, contact Jennifer Hudson Taylor, here.

Bernice "Betty" Watkins (b.1892) daughter of James "Jimmy" Robert Watkins and Mary Emma Watkins

Biddie Watkins (b.1877) with husband John Thomas Carter, and son, James Everette Carter
Biddie Watkins with daughter, Cassie Carter, and granddaughter, Rachel Carter

Christine Watkins age 2 with father, Judson Hersley Watkins
Christine Fern Watkins (b.1920) Age 17
Christine Fern Watkins Age 18
Christine Fern Watkins (color image)
Christine Watkins with husband Lee Thomas Hudson in 1938 before they married
Christine Watkins (Hudson) with husband Lee Hudson, and sons, Tommy and Bennie
Christine Watkins (Hudson) with daughter, Jane Hudson, and sons, Bennie and Tommy
Christine Watkins (Hudson) at 80th birthday party in May 2000

Daniel T. Watkins (1873-1936) son of Horsley Watkins and Ruth Watkins, husband of Licora "Cora" Nunn, his parents were first cousins.
Daniel T. Watkins (not sure of identity, but believed to be a young Daniel T. Watkins)

Greenbury (Green Berry) Watkins (1830-1915) only photo of Watkins brother that served in the Civil War


Gussie Watkins daughter of Judson Hersely Watkins and Sallie Harris, died before age 2


Jack Coley Watkins, Sr. son of Peter "Jud" Judson Hersley Watkins and Sallie Lou Harris 


John Tyler Watkins (1860-1932) oldest son of Hiram Smith Watkins and Susan Payne, husband of Naomie "Nannie" E. Watkins, daughter of William Joseph Watkins and Elizabeth Jane Creasy, John and Naomie were first cousins.
John Tyler Watkins on his horse, Ruby
John Tyler Watkins with his wife and daughters

Judson Hersley Watkins in WWI uniform with wife Sallie Harris
Judson Watkins with daughter Christine at age 2
Judson "Jud" Hersley Watkins (1899-1956) son of James "Jimmy" Robert Watkins and Mary Emma Watkins, parents were first cousins.


Lucille Watkins (Chilton) with brother Ronald Watkins at sister Christine Watkins Hudson's 80th birthday party May 2000


Marvin Watkins son of Judson Hersley Watkins and Sallie Harris Watkins

Mary Emma Watkins (1870-1938) daughter of Horsley Watkins and Ruth Watkins, wife of James "Jimmy" Robert Watkins, her parents were first cousins and she married her first cousin.


Pearl "Aggie" Joyce Watkins (b.1890), daughter of Daniel Webster Watkins and Lucy Ann Joyce, wife of William Perry Barnes


Ronald Watkins with sister Lucille Watkins Chilton at sister Christine Watkins Hudson's 80th birthday party May 2000


Rufus Joseph Fountain Watkins (1859-1929), son of John Wesley Watkins and Susan Robertson, husband of Mary "Emma" Busic

Thank You to our Heroes on July 4th!

This weekend we are celebrating our Independence on July 4th. But few of us even know the names of the men who fought for our Independence outside of the famous Generals like George Washington, and those who actually signed the Declaration of Independence. Many in this nation did not even come here until after the Revolutionary War.

I would like to introduce to you Alexander Smith, Private in the Continental Army of the Revolutionary War, my 6th great-grandfather, on my mother's side of the family. I owe him a debt of gratitude. He not only made it possible in bringing our family to America, but he risked his life to make it possible that my family, as his descendants, would have a better life as free citizens of the United States of America.

It's nice to know that my family played such an important part of our nation's history. The writer in me can't help but wonder about the sacrifices my family must have made during this time as we celebrate the beginning of our nation. Having just returned from a visit to colonial Williamsburg, VA, the time is even more real to me.

I do not have a photo of Alexander Smith, but I do have a photo of his grandson, Reverand Alexander Smith Robbins, who was the brother to my 4th great-grandfather, Nathan Robbins. I have five generations of my Robbins family buried at Ebenezer United Methodist Church Cemetery, dating back before our country was even a nation.

Thank you to our ancestors, and forefathers, who had the courage to stand up, and fight for our freedom. God realizes our sinful nature on earth to take what isn't ours, to commit violence when greed and lust overcome our ability to reason. He knew that there would be times when peaceful people would have to defend themselves against wrong doing and invaders of their peaceful existence.

I believe that is why the Bible says in Ecclesiastes 3 "To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven:...A time to love; a time to hate; A time of war, a time of peace."

 

Notice it says "under heaven". He knew our sinful nature. In this world we have to try and be more like Jesus. That's why the prayer that Jesus gave us in the New Testament says, "Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." If we could live on earth like they do in heaven, we wouldn't have all the problems in the world that we have. But we live here on earth, where many nonbelievers commit bad crimes. As believers we have to recognize this fact.

God will save us out of this world. He will not save us in this world. Because we are not of this world. "And he said to them, `You are from beneath; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.'" (John 8:23)

That is why there are Christian martyers who die for their faith. That is why pain, desease, debt, unhappiness, and sorrow exists. But God has given us His word, hope, faith, joy, and love to combat the evil with His goodness. But His goodness has to be received. When people reject Him, "seeing they do not see, hearing they do not hear" (Matthew 13:13), that's when war breaks out, killing takes place, and when He was crucified.

As long as we live on earth, we will have to endure such things, and we will have to decide what side we will be on. Because we still live here in the flesh, and our children, and our children's children will be affected. And like our ancestors, we will have to make decisions and sacrifices. But for those of us who are believers in Christ, we still have the assurance of our faith, a home that is not of this world.

Thank you God, for our country's independence. Please grant us the wisdom to keep it.

Visit to Columbia, SC

We took a day trip into Columbia, SC where my grandfather, Lee Thomas Hudson, was born in 1912. My dad and aunt came with me and we had a lovely time seeking the exact location where my great-grandfather, Thomas Bennie Hudson, owned a cafe and lived above their shop. The building is still standing after more than 100 years and it has been renovated at 302 Spring St. It's the rose color building with the aqua awnings.

We walked through the new park along the Congaree River where my grandfather used to play as a boy. He learned to swim at the deep part where the Broad River joins the Congaree River. The locals call it the black hole because it is so deep. My grandfather used to tell us that it was as deep as the Jefferson Pilot building in Greensboro, NC. 

The photos are of my dad, Bennie Lee Hudson, and his sister, Judy Hudson, standing in front of the old renovated bridge that links Columbia, to West Columbia. My family lived in West Columbia. The large pile of stone in front of the bridge is what is left of the original bridge from the Civil War. The Confederates blew it up to delay Sherman of the Union Army from coming across. It only delayed them for a day. The Union built another bridge. 

We visited the Caycee Historical Museum where they had school annuals in the early 20th century. We found photos of my grandfather and his sister Alberta when they were in the 8th grade. These are the earliest photos I've ever seen of my grandfather. I only have hard photo copies, but will upload them as soon as I have them scanned.

2010 Wall Reunion!

Our annual Wall Reunion will take place this Sunday, June 13, 2010 at Marlboro Friends Meeting Church in Sophia, NC. Bring a covered dish, a smile, and prepare to reconnect with friends and family. 

What: Wall Reunion

Where: Marlboro Friends Meeting Church, 2668 Marlboro Church Rd., Sophia, NC  27350

When: Sunday, June 13, 2010, 12:00 pm

Welcome to My New Genealogy Blog!

For more than ten years I've had a genealogy website called Our Carolina Roots on Rootsweb, which was later purchased by Ancestry.com. It is set up in such a way that I must code html and it has grown beyond simple maintenance. The url is too long to remember, and the site is too cumbersome to update, and so it never gets updated. 

I've decided to better manage it by creating this simple-to-use blog. This way I can manage all my sites in one easy place and update my genealogy info once in a while rather than never. 

It will take some time, but I plan to eventually upload all my family photos and cemetery images here. Also, by using a blog, I now have an RSS feed that others may want to subscribe to and post on their sites--especially if there are updates here and there.

Thanks for stopping by Our Carolina Roots!