Margaret Jean was born on May 16th 1933 in Jasper, Alabama by Charles Tatum Sr and Minnie Pettigree (Gary), both of whom preceded her in death. Her grandmother, the late Cutie Pettigree, was central in helping to raise both Margaret Jean and her younger brother, the late Edward Tatum. "Jean", excelled both academically as well as musically. By the age of 16, Jean had completed high school and was traveling around various churches as a guest gospel singer, as well as, being featured, as such, on a weekly radio station.
In 1950, she met and married a young minister to be, James R Watkins. They moved to Chicago, Illinois in 1953. They had six children, Brenda, Mimi (Lawrence), Michael (Barbara), Sidney , Tina and Rena. The family attended and was baptized consecutively at Springfield Baptist Church under the late Rev. L. M. Geter and Second Baptist Church under the late Rev. Dr. Hycel B Taylor, both in Evanston, Illinois. Jean was a choir member in both churches, as well as serving on the Financial Committee of Second Baptist Church.
Throughout her career, Jean worked as a stay-at-home mom until the dissolution of her marriage in 1962. As a single parent, she devoted her efforts towards raising her children, which usually involved working two jobs, while either attending school and/or working as a licensed beautician or running/operating her once owned barbeque restaurant. By 1964, her efforts paid off and allowed her to move the family to the Evanston/Skokie suburbs.
Jean was a former member of Operation Push and the NAACP of Chicago. She also loved to cook and entertain. She was a hard-working woman and a strict disciplinarian who insisted that her children be respectable, socially/politically conscientious, finish school and attend church every Sunday. She was definitely not one to "spare the rod" but, she was also that mom who enjoyed spending time with her family.
Due to a disability, in 1983, after 18 years, Jean retired from Allstate Insurance Company where she served as an Insurance Claims Supervisor, during which time she also earned an Associate's Degree in Insurance Law. Around 1985, Jean joined The One Church, One Child adoption program at her church. This union welcomed three more siblings to the Watkins crew, Robert, Obtravies and little Margaret (Ray). The family moved to Palm Coast Florida in 1994 where Jean later found and joined the choir at her new church home in Mt Calvary Baptist Church now under Pastor Edwin Coffie.
The beautiful and beloved matriarch of the family, Margaret Jean Watkins, went home to be with the Lord on December 1st 2013. She leaves to mourn her passing, her fore-mentioned 9 children, her brother, Charles Tatum (Cora), her sister, "Lexie", her sister-in-law Minnie (Billy), her ex-husband Hugh Walton, her aunt Francis Hatfield, 19 grandchildren, 5 great grand children and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, friends and loved ones.