Obituary for Ellen Doretha Lee (Watkins)
Ellen Doretha Lee was born January 20, 1929 in Durham, NC to Rufus Hayes Watkins and Alpha Baker Watkins. She attended Hillside High School and is a member of the 1945 Hillside Class. She received her Licensed Practical Nurse certificate at Hillside and later moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She enjoyed over ten years working at Magee Women’s Hospital in Oakland, Pa. While in Pittsburgh, she developed a life-long relationship with her best friend, Helen Hamlin Smalley.
She later returned to Durham, NC and continued her nursing career at Duke Medical Center. She attended the Watts School of Nursing where she received her Registered Nursing degree in 1973. She eventually ended her career in Nursing retiring in 1995 from Duke Medical Center.
Doretha as she is called by family and friends enjoyed travelling and cooking delicious meals for her family on Sunday and during the holiday season. She was a member of Russell Memorial CME Church where she served on the Human Concerns Committee and the Lydia Missionary Circle. She was also a member of the Nurse’s Breakfast Club and the Duke University Retirement Association.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Doris Richardson and Celestine Watkins. She is survived by her children, Johnathan Michael Watkins (Angela), Nancy W Clements, Jacqueline Daye (Willis) and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She later returned to Durham, NC and continued her nursing career at Duke Medical Center. She attended the Watts School of Nursing where she received her Registered Nursing degree in 1973. She eventually ended her career in Nursing retiring in 1995 from Duke Medical Center.
Doretha as she is called by family and friends enjoyed travelling and cooking delicious meals for her family on Sunday and during the holiday season. She was a member of Russell Memorial CME Church where she served on the Human Concerns Committee and the Lydia Missionary Circle. She was also a member of the Nurse’s Breakfast Club and the Duke University Retirement Association.
She was preceded in death by her sisters, Doris Richardson and Celestine Watkins. She is survived by her children, Johnathan Michael Watkins (Angela), Nancy W Clements, Jacqueline Daye (Willis) and several grandchildren and great grandchildren.