Funeral services for Hilton Austin Watkins will be held at 3 P.M. , on Saturday, December 21, 2013 at Newton County Funeral Home - South in Newton with Bro. Tim Mowdy and Bro. Billy Lott officiating. Burial will be in Poplar Springs Cemetery.

Mr. Watkins, 79 of Newton, died Thursday, December 19, 2013 at Anderson Regional Medical Center North Campus in Meridian.

Visitation will be held from 1 P.M. until 2:45 P.M. at Newton County Funeral Home - South on Saturday, December 21, 2013.

Newton County Funeral Home of Newton is in charge of arrangements. 601-635-3200

He liked to garden and loved his animals. He enjoyed being a "shade tree" mechanic. He loved watching television, especially "the news." Favorite pass times were spent outdoors and with his family.

Survivors include his wife: Shirley Ann Watkins of Newton; two sons: Richard Waymon Watkins of Hot Springs, AR and Michael George Hilton Watkins of Newton; one step son: Joel Mitchell Martin of Newton; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren

He was preceded in death by his parents: George Henry and Epsie Irene Hilton Watkins

Pallbearers will be William "Porky" Jones, Kaleb Rice, Michael Hamrick, Steven Moncrief, James Jones, and Jerry Jones.


Honorary Pallbearers will be Charles Scoggin, John Hand, and Eddie Slattery.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

Friends and family may sign an online guest book at www.newtoncountyfuneralhome.com