Edward Nolan Watkins

MEBANE - Mr. Edward Nolan Watkins, 43, was born on Nov. 24, 1970, in Chapel Hill, N.C. to Brice and Margie Pritchett Watkins and departed this life on Friday, April 18, 2014, due to a fishing accident at Farmers Lake.Ed was a 1989 graduate of Southern Alamance High School. He attended and graduated from Nashville Auto and Diesel College in Nashville, Tenn. with honors in a degree in auto and diesel technology. Ed was currently employed with Elon University as a mechanic and had previously been employed with Western Steak House and Cortina Fabrics in Swepsonville, N.C. As an avid outdoorsman, Ed loved to hunt, fish, raise hogs and cows, and breed hunting dogs. One of his favorite pastimes was to work on and race his 1969 Chevy Chevelle. Much of Ed's time was dedicated to the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation, where he served as a member of the Tribal Council. He assisted with the upkeep of the tribal grounds and the preparation for the annual Pow-Wow.At an early age, Ed was baptized and attended Springdale AME Church.Left to treasure the memories of Ed's life are his father and mother, of the home; brothers, Ken Pritchett, of Chesapeake, Va. and Brice G. Watkins Jr. and wife Stepheni, of Liberty; sister, Ronda W. Zeigler and husband Eddie, of Mebane; grandmother, Annie S. Pritchett, of Burlington; nephew Kamron Pritchett, and niece, MiRonda Swepson. He was blessed to share a portion of his life with two special children, Destiny and Dominick Allen. Our loss is shared by a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, April 23, 2014, at the McClure Funeral Home Chapel in Mebane with the Rev. Robert L. Goode, officiating. Burial will follow in Alamance Memorial Park.The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service on Wednesday at McClure in Mebane, and other times at the residence of the family at 5017 Mebane Oaks Road, Mebane.In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Springdale AME Church, 5554 South NC 62, Burlington, NC 27217 or to the Occaneechi Band of the Saponi Nation at OBSN, P.O. Box 356, Mebane, NC 27302. Memorial may be sent at www.mcclurefuneralservice.net -