Ruth Pearl Allen Watkins (affectionately known as
“Bumpsey”) was a loving mother, wife, grandmother, aunt,
cousin, and friend. She was born on April 5, 1926 in Prince
Edward County, Virginia, to the late Frank Allen and Clara
Wilson Allen. She was the eldest of six children born to this
union. She is preceded in death by four siblings: Frank,
Thomas and Herbert Allen, and Myrlin McAfee Harrington.
She was baptized at Race Street Baptist Church in
Farmville, Virginia, at an early age. Ruth attended church
frequently, and her faith in God sustained her throughout
her life. Most recently, she attended Saint Paul’s Baptist
Church in Henrico, Virginia. She also enjoyed online bible
study and listening to old gospel hymns.
Ruth attended Robert R. Moton School in Prince Edward
County for grade school. She graduated from Bluefield
State College, Bluefield, West Virginia, and later earned a
master’s degree from Virginia State University, Petersburg,
Virginia. Ruth taught in Appomattox County and Prince
Edward County Public Schools for many years. She was
well
-known for maintaining a strict classroom environment
that promoted learning for all students.
Ruth was married to William Clarence Watkins, and from
this union, four children were born: Lorenza, Delores,
Louise, and Hope Watkins. Throughout her life, she
advocated and cared for family members and friends. She
was always willing to lend a helping hand whenever
someone was in need. In addition to helping others, she
also helped raise one great niece and two grandchildren
from childhood to adulthood, Robin Allen, Tess Watkins
-

Short and Leon “Blake” Sutton.
Ruth was a member of the Farmville Chapter of Order of
Eastern Star and the Farmville Alumnae Chapter of Delta
Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, where she remained a
faithful member until her illness. Ruth loved organizing her
sorority's annual scholarship dance and Outstanding Youth
Program. Her love for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority,
Incorporated was second to her love for her family.

Ruth taught adult GED in her community, participated in
the National Night Out activities AARP, and was politically
active in her community. During her spare time, she
enjoyed jigsaw puzzles, sewing, gardening, picking
vegetables from her brother Herbert’s

garden, and
preserving food for the winter months. She loved traveling
and visiting the mountains. She also enjoyed listening to
songs from the 1950s and ’60s, especially “Personality” by
Lloyd Price.
For the last few years, Ruth enjoyed creating her own
masterpieces while attending senior art class at Glen Allen
Cultural Art Center on Saturday mornings. She attended
the Circle Center Senior Daycare three days a week. The
staff often commented on her quick wit, compassion, and
kindness for others. She never missed a beat!
Ruth had a very calm spirit. She seldom raised her voice
but would offer an “eye” that spoke loudly for her. Her
raised voice left no doubt that she meant real business. In
her later years, Ruth refrained from saying “Goodbye” to
loved ones and visitors but would bid you adieu with a soft
-
spoken, “See you later.” When she was tired of hearing
your voice or felt that you weren’t being nice, she quietly
said, “That’s enough.”
She was preceded in death by her son, Clarence Lorenza
Watkins, and granddaughter, Jocelyn Renee Watkins.
Ruth leaves to cherish her memory three daughters,
Delores Scott and Louise Pace (Jim) of Chesterfield,
Virginia; Hope Justice (Alvin) of Disputanta, Virginia; one
daughter
-in
-law, Linda Watkins of Richmond, Virginia; five
grandchildren, Porscha Watkins Faush (Tony) of Varina,
Virginia, Tess Watkins

-Short of Prince George, Virginia,
Christopher Watkins (Candace) of Hopewell, Virginia; Leon
“Blake” Sutton (Bri) of Farmville, Virginia and Joy Justice of
Disputanta, Virginia; one dedicated great

-niece, Robin

Allen of Farmville, Virginia; eleven great

-grandchildren
;

one great

-great grandson; one brother, Albert Allen of
Houston, Texas, one lifelong friend of 60+ years, Virginia
Goode; one adopted son, Willie Miller; three devoted
neighbors, Philip Goode, Rita Moseley and William
Singleton; six dedicated caregivers, Huewydah Al

-Fuquan
Ali, Cassandra Catoe, Helen Crawford, Gwen Kirby, Jane
Simmons, and Theresa Watson; and a host of relatives,
neighbors, friends and former students.