Josephine A. Watkins

Josephine A. Watkins, affectionately known to family and friends as "Cookie" or "Josey," was born on March 3, 1944, in Trenton, New Jersey. She was the daughter of Thomas Williams Sr. and Elizabeth Williams, and one of nine children in a close-knit family that would remain central to her identity throughout her life.

Growing up in Trenton, Josey attended Trenton Central High School, where she graduated and began to develop the compassionate spirit that would define her career. Determined to further her education, she embarked on higher education studies at Mercer County Community College in Trenton and later attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, preparing herself for a life dedicated to serving others.

In a remarkable demonstration of patriotism and service, Josey honored her country by enlisting in the United States Army, serving from August 20, 1974, to August 19, 1977. Her military service took her and her family to exotic posts around the world, including Japan and Germany, experiences that broadened her worldview and strengthened her resilience. These overseas assignments exposed her to diverse cultures and ways of life, experiences that would inform her later work in social services.

After completing her military service, Josey began what would become a distinguished career in social work at the Department of Human Services in Trenton, New Jersey. For many years, she served as a dedicated social worker for the Division of Youth and Family Services (DYFS), where she worked tirelessly to protect children and support families in crisis. Her work required not only professional expertise but also the innate compassion and strength that characterized her entire life.

Josey's career journey eventually took her to Arizona, where she accepted a position as an Adult Group Home Supervisor in Scottsdale. In this role, she continued her commitment to caring for vulnerable populations, overseeing the daily operations and care of adults in group home settings. She remained in this position until her retirement in June 2024, marking the end of a career spanning over four decades in human services.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Josey was known as a "spunky spitfire" who embraced life with enthusiasm and joy. She was a lifelong lover of casinos and enjoyed countless escapades to Atlantic City with her lifelong friend Shirley Bridgewater-Simms. Her social circle was rich with meaningful, decades-long friendships, including special relationships with Linda Robinson and Dorothy Cunningham.

One of Josey's greatest passions was cruising, and she traveled to many exotic countries and islands on what seemed like countless voyages. Her trusty cruise companions included Kim, Kenny, Niesie, Devida, Tilaya, and Nikki, who was also her Farkle game partner. Even in her final days while hospitalized, Josey remained determined to take one last cruise, a testament to her adventurous spirit and zest for life.

Perhaps the greatest joy in Josey's life was her role as "Grammy" to her only granddaughter, Milani Bankston. The two shared an extraordinarily close relationship and were described as "darn near inseparable." Josey spent the last two decades doting on Milani, and everyone who knew her could attest that being a grandmother was truly "the light of her entire life".

Josey was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas Sr. and Elizabeth Williams, and five siblings: Thomas Williams Jr., Samuel Williams, Iomia "Omie" Williams Stevenson, Edith Williams, and Elnora "Gail" McMillan. She is survived by her son Ronald Williams of Ewing, New Jersey, and daughter Ennise Williams of Charlotte, North Carolina, as well as her beloved granddaughter Milani. Her surviving sisters include Theresa Rogers (Eugene) of Hamilton, New Jersey; Diane Williams of Trenton, New Jersey; Janiece Williams-Mendenhall of Hampton, Virginia; and Janette Williams Kidd of Trenton, New Jersey.

After a brave and valiant battle with cancer, Josephine A. Watkins passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her death marked the end of a life characterized by selfless service, unwavering compassion, and an innate giving spirit that touched countless lives throughout her career in social work and her personal relationships. Her legacy lives on through the many families she helped, the friends who cherished her companionship, and especially through her beloved granddaughter Milani, who will carry forward the memory of a woman who truly embodied the essence of compassion and strength.