Family: Watkins loved family, God and recycling

“I will always be looking for more that I can give and be thankful for what I have,” Shirley Watkins wrote in an autobiography left to her family.

Shirley Theresa Rome Watkins was known for her outgoing spirit to start a conversation with anyone and her willingness to help others.

Christmas stockings for her each of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren hang from the fireplace. Each of them is hand-decorated with beads, sequins and glitter, specialized for each member of the family.

The stockings on the fireplace are many, but family members gathered at her house remember it as her commitment to bring joy and love to their lives, as well as everyone she met along the way.

Last Friday, the longtime volunteer and friend of the community died from head injuries sustained on a trip with friends in St. Augustine, Fla.

Although she was 85 years old, family members said she was in total control of her life.

For more than 25 years, she volunteered at the Good Samaritan Food Bank, at least once a week, where she was able to interact with clients who came into the food bank.

She was also an active member of the St. Vincent de Paul Society at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church in Houma. Similar to the food bank, she interacted with clients to determine the best way to help them through their difficult times.

And until recent years, she was a longtime member of the Terrebonne Parish Tourism Commission.

Shirley was the youngest of 11 children, and managed to live longer than any of her siblings.

“She did not want to stop moving,” Mary Kay Waguespack, her oldest daughter, said.

Shirley was in the process of making scrapbooks for all of her grandchildren. She completed most of the books, with the exception of two.

“She did scrapbooking before scrapbooking was a commercial, cool product,” Waguespack said.

Sarah Triplett, one of Shirley’s granddaughters, said her grandmother always stayed ahead of trends and was not intimidated by new technology.

“She was green before green was cool,” Triplett said.

For birthday and holidays, Shirley was known for wrapping presents in recycled newspapers, and would create bows from recycled chip bags, straws and anything else she collected throughout the year.

“Some people knew her as the ‘Recycle Queen,’” Katie Champagne, another granddaughter, said. “She would even get calls from schools to give demonstrations on recycling.”

Her son, Richard Watkins, remembers his mom as very detailed and organized, and considers her the perfect example of someone who mastered the art of Southern cuisine.

“Her affections centered on her faith and family,” Richard said. “She was one of those people who could discipline with love.”

Shirley lived in the same house since 1958 and it is considered a house where everyone is welcome. Shirley would coordinate parties for every occasion and would attend as many family events as possible.

“She attended three graduations in three different states in one week,” J. Louis “Bubba” Watkins III, said. “Age did not have any effect on her ability. And she did not mind telling you what was wrong or right, or let you know how she felt about something.”

Shirley married the late Judge J. Louis Watkins Jr., her high school sweetheart, on Sept. 22, 1951.

After her husband passed away in 1997, Shirley kept a picture of him at her bedside for the next 16 years. Bubba said she never forgot her husband and carried his picture with her on every trip since his death.

The Watkins’ family takes comfort that their mother is reunited with the two people she loved most, her God and her husband.

Visitation will be from 5 to 9 p.m. today, Dec. 11, at Chauvin Funeral Home and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12, at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral with Mass of Christian Burial to follow. Burial will be at St. Francis de Sales Cemetery No. 2. (Chauvin)

Shirley Watkins carried a picture of her late husband, Judge J. Louis Watkins Jr., her high school sweetheart, with her on every trip since his death.

COURTESY PHOTO