Salliejean "Salli" Watkins

Salliejean (Salli) Watkins, 84, of Fort Mill, SC joined the Lord on August 28, 2022 following a brief illness.

She was born to Oren & Cornelia (McMaken) Skinner in Muncie, IN on October 27, 1937.  Her parents preceded her in death, and so did her brother, John.  Salli lived in Texas and Ohio as a youngster due to her father’s civil service job after leaving the military.  Most of her life was spent in Indiana.

She graduated from Elmhurst High School in Fort Wayne, IN and began pursuing a teaching dream by attending Ball State University in Muncie, IN where she met her first husband, R. Thomas Deahl.  After his graduation he accepted a job with the SAGE (Semi Automatic Ground Environment) project, predecessor to inter-ballistic missiles.  They lived in Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Nevada due to her husband’s assignments.  They settled down in Syracuse, NY where her husband died of cancer at a young age leaving her with four sons ages four, three, two, and two months.

After her husband’s passing, she returned to Indiana to be closer to family.  She completed her undergraduate degree in Speech and Hearing Pathology at Bowling Green University in Ohio and later completed a Master’s degree in Education in Indiana.  She was an educational speech and hearing teacher for a couple years before turning to her first love, teaching.  Salli taught K through 6th grade and 8th grade, in public and Lutheran schools.  She was principal of two Lutheran schools and retired from Ascension Lutheran School in Charlotte, NC.

Salli met her second husband, Albert Watkins, while participating in an ecumenical single’s group in Charlotte.  He preceded her in death from cancer in 2017.  They lived in Charlotte, but eventually settled in Fort Mill.

Salli loved children and serving the Lord in her church family.  She previously participated in Choir, teaching Sunday School and VBS, being on the Fellowship Committee and in Ladies’ Circle, was a Stephen Minister and Stephen leader, and led a Congregational Renewal Committee.  She was very active with the Via de Cristo community.

Salliejean is survived by her brother Oren (Bud) Skinner, four sons John Deahl (Brad) of GA, Eric Deahl (Louise) of SC, Steven Deahl (Theresa) of AL, and Joseph Deahl (Denise) of SC, seven grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.  Salli will be dearly missed and always remembered.

Salli loved reading and traveling.

A memorial service will be held at Ascension Lutheran Church in Charlotte, NC on Saturday, September 10th at 10:30 AM.  The family will receive visitors prior to the service at 9:30 AM in the courtyard.  A private disposition of ashes will follow the service at Lake Wylie Lutheran Church in Tega Cay, SC.  In lieu of flowers Salli requested memorial donations be made to Ascension Soup Kitchen.