Barbara Watkins was born on May 5, 1945 in Drew, Mississippi. The family moved to East Saint Louis, Illinois with her mother and siblings. Her parents along with three siblings all preceded her in death. Barbara attended and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1961.

Barbara met and married Eugene (Pat) Watkins in 1979. They were married for thirty-seven years until his death in 2017. Barbara worked at the Missouri Department of Social Services until she retired in 2012 at the lovely age of sixty-seven years. Barbara departed this life on Tuesday, January 4, 2022. To cherish her memory and to thank God for the time spent in their lives are: seven sisters and brothers ~ Clover (Canzader) Taylor of Belleville, Illinois, Roosevelt Taylor and Ronald (Marla) Taylor of East Saint. Louis, Illinois, LaMar Taylor of Lee Summit, Missouri, Linda (Jodie) Lockridge, Carolyn Davis of East Saint Louis, Illinois, Rosalyn Lockridge of Belleville, Illinois; three dear friends ~ Lela, Alesha and Coreen (Bee-Bee); and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews.