Freddie Mae Watkins passed away on December 28, 2024, at the Pearl of Hinsdale, with family by her side.

She was the firstborn daughter to Fred and Sallie. She grew up in the south and became a barber for an orphanage in Texas. She was a nurse and enjoyed working in the Covenant Home in Chicago.

She went as a missionary to Haiti while raising her family. She loved the lord with all her heart. 

She was frugal, resourceful, and sharing. She loved music; among her favorites were Streisand, Celine, Susan Boyle but her favorite was Tom Jones (yes, that one!), however, gospel music fed her soul.

Her favorite pastime was fishing. She taught all of her children how to fish. She taught that if you learned to fish, you would never starve. When she traveled with Rusty if there was a nearby body of water, she would point out as to when she had fished there.

 She loved The Bachelor and Survivor tv shows and would do commentary with her best friend, Shirley about the programs.

She is survived by her children, Paula, Rusty, Donna (John), David (Michelle), 7 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren, other extended family members, best friend Shirley and a large community of loved ones.

Memorials to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or www.stjude.org would be appreciated. 

A visitation will be held on Thursday January 2, 2025, from 4:00 to 8:00 pm (Celebration of Life Service at 6:30 pm. Officiating: Pastor David Watkins) at Adolf & Powell Funeral Home, 7000 S. Madison Street, Willowbrook. Private family interment at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.