Virginia Watkins, 76, died Wednesday at SunBridge Putnam Nursing Home in Hurricane.

Virginia was a lifelong resident of South Charleston and devoted much of her life's work to the ministry of South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene where she had been a member since early childhood, taught Sunday school for many years and was employed for 25 years at Kiddie College Daycare Center. In 1992, Virginia received a "Distinguished Service Award" from the International Church of the Nazarene for her many years of faithful Christian service.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 50 years, James 'Jim" Watkins; parents, Okey and Eathel Wilmoth; and brother, Jimmy Wilmoth.

Surviving are her daughter and son-in-law, Diane and David Wasson of South Charleston; granddaughter, Jennie Miller and husband, Brian of Nitro; and brother, Donald Wilmoth of Ringgold, Ga; and extended family members, Shirlene Wilmoth, Teresa Carmack and Brittni Carmack of Deltona, Fla.

Funeral services will be held at 6 p.m., Saturday, May 31, at Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar. Friends may call two hours prior to the service. Pastor Kent Estep of South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene will preside over the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Children's Ministries Department of South Charleston First Church of the Nazarene. Checks should be made payable to the church and mailed as follows: First Church of the Nazarene, 4923 Kentucky Street, South Charleston, WV 25309.

Arrangements are in the care of Keller Funeral Home, Dunbar.