Celebration of Life
Freddie Geneva Watkins Connor Graves was called home by her Lord and Savior on December 6, 2023. Freddie was born on May 20, 1932, in Moscow, Tennessee, the third of four daughters born to James Clarence Watkins and Tommie Ruth Ashford Watkins. She spent her early years in Moscow, and attended Fayette County Schools. Freddie married Howard Connor of Ashland, Mississippi, where they operated Connor's Pottery, a family business which he began with his father. The pottery business was operated in Kentucky, Texas, Tennessee, and finally in Mississippi. Howard and his brother operated the business together until 1964, when Howard became the sole owner. Connor's Pottery was located on Highway 72, and it was the first manufacturing industry in Benton County, Mississippi, and was one of the largest employers in the county at that time. Freddie worked in their well-known pottery business, and did the bookkeeping until Howard's death in 1991.
Freddie married Bobby Graves of Grand Junction, Tennessee in 1996, and continued to reside in Ashland until his death in 2012. She then moved back to Moscow, and lived in her early childhood home until her move to SomerOak Senior Living Center in Somerville, Tennessee in 2018. She was an active member of the Canaan Baptist Church in Canaan, Mississippi, and enjoyed gardening, needlework, quilting, church activities and spending time with family and friends.
Freddie was preceded in death by husbands Howard Connor and Bobby Graves, her parents Clarence and Tommie Watkins, and sisters Bernice Brewer and Margaret Adair. She is survived by one sister, Norma Jean Chambers (Alfred Shirley) of Moscow, nieces Vicky Gamber, Donna Morris (Robert), Dorris Wiggins, Mary Jones, Patricia Lackey (Fred), and Beverly Brewer. She also leaves two nephews, Billy Adair (Sandra) and Dwight Brewer (Debbie), as well as many great nieces and great nephews.
Services for Mrs Graves will be held in the Chapel of the Holly Springs Funeral Home on Thursday, December 7, 2023, at 3:00 pm. A visitation for family and friends will begin at 2:00, and last until service time. Burial will be in Grand Junction Cemetery. |