The Oglethorpe Echo
Mary Sophronia Watkins Maxwell, beloved wife of the late Henry Rains Maxwell, entered into rest on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2024, at Doctors Hospital in Augusta.
A memorial service was held on Jan. 3, 2025, at Platt’s Funeral Home with the Rev. Phiip Hedgecoth officiating. Burial was at Clark Cemetery in Lexington on Jan. 4.
Mary was born in Lexington on June 23, 1939. She was one of three girls born to Ed Milton Watkins and Frances Louise Pittard Watkins.
She obtained a bachelor’s degree in education from the University of Georgia before meeting Henry Maxwell, who would become the love of her life. They married and Henry’s job took him to Augusta.
They settled in Evans in 1967, where they raised their two girls and many beloved family pets that were a part of the family’s lives throughout the years.
Evans would become home. She worked as a librarian at the Augusta Library, spending her entire career in the Audio Visual and Talking Books department.
She officially retired after more than 30 years, though she continued working part time for several more years. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Evans and used her work skills to develop their first library in the early 1970s.
She was very close to her son-in-law, Thom Story, during her last years. They spent countless hours together, and he became more than a son-in-law. He was her friend, confidant, chauffeur and personal shopper. His help was immeasurable.
She is survived by daughters Mary Louise Story (Thomas) of Evans and Nancy Maxwell Shealy of Augusta, sisters Edna Germany (Jimmy) of Arnoldsville and Lee Smith (David) of Spanish Fort, Alabama, stepsister Carrie Pass Wall of Athens, her dear friends Cliffy and Gwinnn Ware of Evans, and several cherished nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her husband, Henry, her parents, Ed and Louise Watkins, an infant brother, Ed Milton Watkins, and her stepmother, Belle Smith Watkins.
If so desired, memorials may be made to That’s What Friends Are For at thatswhatfriendsarefor.org or St.Jude Hospital for Children at stjude.org.