Citizen Drops Dead.
Mr. Thomas D. Watkins Dies Suddenly.
Heart Trouble the Reputed Cause – Well Known Business Man and Upright Citizen.

Mr. Thomas D. Watkins, a well known business man of Cartersville, dropped dead in his store last Saturday morning.

Mr. Watkins had just been down to the business part of the city and returned to his store when he fell suddenly to the floor.  There was no one in the store with him at the time but Mrs. Watkins, from the home, which adjoins the store, saw her husband fall.  She immediately ran to him.  Rev. Sam C. Dean, who had just passed the store heard Mrs. Watkins’ screams and divining that something serious was the matter, went back to the store where he assisted Mrs. Watkins in ascertaining if life was gone from the stricken man.  Others came in the store immediately.  It was soon discovered that life was extinct.  Mr. Watkins probably lived only a few seconds after he fell. Dr. Griffin was the first of the physicians to reach him but others came in afterwards.  Nothing could be done to resuscitate him.

The cause of Mr. Watkins’ death was heart trouble.  He had suffered from this trouble for a number of years.  To those who know him well his death was not a surprise.

Mr. Watkins was practically reared in Bartow county.  He was fifty years old. He leaves a wife and a number of brothers and sisters.  These are Rev. J. W. Watkins, chaplain of the Georgia senate, his home being in Atlanta; Mr. F. C. Watkins, an alderman of this city; Mr. A. B. Watkins, a member of the city police force in Rome; Mrs. Waters, of Cartersville, Mrs. Ella P. Dowdy, of Rome; Mrs. W. M. Smith and Miss Easter Watkins, of Cartersville, and Mrs. W. J. Luke, of Rome.

Mr. Watkins had only been married about two and a half years, his wife being Mrs. Kano Marbut, of Conyers, Ga.  Mr. and Mrs. Watkins were greatly devoted to each other and the blow of his death is a great one to the widow and the other relatives and friends.

Mr. Watkins was an exemplary citizen and a consecrated Christian. He had for years been a member of the board of stewards of the Methodist church and was a great worker in the church and the cause of religion.  Mr. Watkins’ store was at the corner of Main street and Douthit Ferry road and by frugality, energy and fair dealing he had been very successful.  He had accumulated quite a little property in the city.

The funeral took place from the home Sunday afternoon, the services being conducted by Revs. G. W. Duval and W. A. Cleveland.  The remains were interred at Oak Hill. [Another obituary, written by Mrs. Sam Jones, can be found on page 7 of the December 24, 1908.  In this obituary his birth date is given as February 15, 1858 and his place of birth as Jackson County, Georgia.  He married Cano Marbut on May 16, 1906.]