Norris William Watkins, 84, of Columbia, died peacefully Saturday, January 31, 2015. Born in Marion, NC on August 23, 1930, to the late Augustus Samuel and Evie Judith Ann Taylor Watkins. He was a graduate of Marion High School in Marion, North Carolina and Lenoir-Rhyne College. Mr. Watkins served in the U.S. Army during the Korean Conflict and was a member of North Trenholm Baptist Church.

After graduating from college, he implemented computer systems at Wachovia Bank and Lowes in Winston Salem, N.C. In December 1961 Mr. Watkins moved his family to Columbia where he worked at the Federal Land Bank for three years. In 1964 he went to work at First National Bank until 1980, when he left to open one of the first video rental chains in the Midlands. In 1992, he began working at Syncor, retiring in 2004 at age 75.

Mr. Watkins was an avid golfer, a longtime member of Spring Valley Country Club, where he worked tirelessly to increase membership. He also enjoyed memberships at Woodlands Golf and Country Club, The University Club in Blythewood, and Fort Jackson Country Club.
Survivors include his wife, Sybil Cline Watkins; daughters, Charlotte (Rick) Eason of Columbia, Susan (Rocky) Bronkhorst, of Roslyn, WA; sons, Bill (Becky) Watkins, Brad Watkins and Todd Watkins all of Columbia; brother-in-law, Alan Westcott of Tallahassee, FL; sister-in-law, Agnes Cline of Lincolnton, NC; grandsons, Justin Eason, Aaron Watkins, Thomas Watkins, Josh Horton, Van Bronkhorst, and Zachary Bronkhorst; 29 nieces and nephews and their children and grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters, Sue Mitchem, Mildred Gardner, Lois Westcott, Wilma Sabastian; brothers, J. D. Watkins, Charles Watkins.

The service for Mr. Watkins will be held at 1 pm, Thursday, February 5th at North Trenholm Baptist Church with The Rev. Dr. Steve Cloud and The Rev. R. Joseph Copeland officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service at noon. A private burial will precede in Fort Jackson National Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Palmetto Health Hospice, C/O Palmetto Health Foundation, P. O. Box 602575, Charlotte, NC 28260-2575 or to North Trenholm Baptist Church, 6515 North Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206. Shives Funeral Home, Trenholm Road Chapel is assisting the family.