Saundra D. Watkins

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024 at 10:30 am in the chapel at Warren Funeral Home for Saundra D. Watkins, 73, who passed away on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 in Des Plaines, Illinois. Rev. Charles J. Ivy, Senior Pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church in Waukegan, IL will officiate the ceremony. Interment will be in Warren Cemetery.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, October 12, 2024 from 9:00 am until time of service at 10:30 am at Warren Funeral Home.

Mrs. Watkins is survived by her beloved husband of almost 51 years Craig Watkins, cherished siblings Edna Collier, James Douglas Harris, David Harris, Sr. (Wanda) and Annette McClanahan; her precious nieces and nephews Pat Hooper, Sonya Guillory, Greg Smith (Dana), Liz Smith, Robert Smith, Ernest Smith, Pam Walker (Jerald), April Harris (Kimathi), Shasta McClanahan, Derrick Harris, Sean Harris (Lila), Eric Flippen, David Harris, Jr., Kevin Harris, Terriana Gotch, Rufus Woods, Steven Woods, Carvena Harris, Yvette Harris, Eric Woods, Andrea Woods, James Woods and Dr. Michelle Collins-Austin (Dr. Kenneth Austin); darling great-nieces and nephews Arthur Neville, III (Shermika), Jada Rhodes, Kala Rhodes, Amaris Rhodes, Jadon Rhodes, Josiah Walker, Reagan Walker, Cory Smith, Darnisha Smith, Kendra Smith, Kayla Smith, Brianna Smith, Marissa Smith, Jordan Guillory, Jr., Cameron Guillory, Ebony Hooper, Marcus Hooper, Artesha Hooper, Amber Austin, Kenneth Michael Austin, Pamela Smith, Jasney Combs, Serenity Martin, Alexis Miranda, Aeriel Miranda, Tyshone Harris and Jasmine Norris  and a host of cousins; Beverly Barnes, Ethel O'Dell, relatives and friends who will miss her deeply. Special family and friends; Jacquelyn Watkins (James) , Lisa Jones, Joy Sisson, Danetta Davis (Anthony) and Cynthia Gibson-Dyse.

She is preceded in death by her son, James Watkins who she loved dearly; her parents Girtha Lee and James Harris; sisters Aice Faye Harris, Opal Smith, Janette Collins and Juanita Flippen; and brothers Milton Harris, Reuben Harris and Terry Harris.

Saundra D. Watkins was born in Many, Louisiana on May 12, 1951, to Girtha Lee Sweet Harris and James Harris. After completing Sabine High School, she traveled to Chicago, Illinois for employment opportunity and found love. There she met and fell in love with Craig Lee Watkins, and they were married on October 6, 1973. Saundra enjoyed working for several years with long-standing friendships while at Nosco and Cherry Electric. Her favorite job of them all was as a loving wife and outstanding mother to Craig and James Watkins.

In her free time, she enjoyed gardening, creating greeting cards, cooking and caring for her family.

She fully embraced life and was an exceptionally caring person. She was generous to everyone she met and was like a mother to many in her life. The color purple is famous because of her love for it. God bless the royalty she brought to the color.