Marion Watkins was born January 25, 1933 in Raleigh, North Carolina to the late Herbert and Lessie (Brown) Durham, Sr. The family relocated to Passaic, New Jersey in 1947.

Marion graduated from Passaic High School, and later received a Certificate in Medical Terminology from Rutgers University. Following graduation, Marion was employed as a medical secretary with Beth Israel Hospital of Passaic for 36 years. Upon her retirement, she and her husband moved to Greensboro, NC.

Marion was the proud mother of two sons, Rev. L. Ronald Durham and the late David Charles Veal Jr. She married the love of her life, James G. 'Scooter' Watkins on November 3, 1962, and they shared many common interests, including a joy of motorcycling. They would often travel the highways on their Harleys from Passaic, NJ to Raleigh, North Carolina, to stay connected with their family roots. Marion was a member of Union Baptist Church, Passaic, NJ, under the leadership of Rev. T. H. Alexander, and Rev. Ronald Johnson, where she served as a trustee. She was a well-dressed woman, known for her collection of striking hats. She was also a faithful member of the Finast Club, a group of seven women who raised thousands of scholarship dollars for deserving students.

On May 26, 2019, Marion left us for her eternal home. In addition to her parents, Marion is preceded in death by her beloved husband of 50 years, James, her youngest son, David Charles Veal Jr.; five brothers, Herbert Jr. Durham, Bernard Durham, Wilbert Durham, Edward Hinton and George Jackson; and two sisters, Charlene Watkins and Shirley Mae Manuel. She leaves to cherish her memory her son, Rev. Dr. L. Ronald (Maureen) Durham of Deltona, FL; her brothers, James Baker of Raleigh, NC, Rev. Eugene (Dottie) Durham of Henderson, NC, and Wallace Jackson of California; beloved brother-in-law, Hayward Manuel of Garfield, NJ; grandchildren, Marsaya L Taylor of Newark, NJ, Jeremy and Jason Givens of Passaic, NJ, Natasha Durham of Deland, FL, Jocelyn (Terrence) Uzzell of Deltona, FL, and Colleen Durham of Montclair, NJ; her lifelong friend, Margaret Johnson of Passaic, NJ, and a host of great grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.