CHESNEE – Frederick S. Watkins Sr., 84, of 400 Walker Ave., Apt. 6411, entered eternal rest on Thursday, March 19, 2015, at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Widower of Mary Jane Louise Sarratt Watkins, he was born in Cherokee County and was the son of the late S. Phillips and the late Willie Mae Curtis Watkins. He was a member of Greater Buck Shoals Ministries and a retired employee of Cone Mills.

Mr. Watkins was preceded in death by two children, Sonny and Jeanette Watkins; five siblings, Jimmy, L.C., Dell, Vickie and “Toot” Watkins.

Surviving are five sons, Jimmy (Diane) Watkins of Jackson, Tenn., Joseph (Lorraine) Brannon of Spartanburg, Frederick Donnell Watkins Jr., Keith L. (Telisa) Watkins Sr., of Gaffney, Richard Lipscomb of Morganton, N.C.; two daughters, Ruth (Rev. L.J.) Valentine of Cowpens and Ruby Gail (Emerson) Hughes of Spartanburg; three sisters, Dorothy Dawkins, Sandra Phillips and Jean Phillips, all of North Carolina; 19 grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be Tuesday, March 24, at 3 p.m. at Greater Buck Shoals Ministries Church with the Rev. T.E. Mc- Dowell officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery. He will lie in state from 2-3 p.m.

Arrangements by The Gilmore Mortuary.

(gilmoresmortuary.com)