Joyce Ann Watkins

Joyce Ann Watkins (Sheilds), 86, of Auburn, Kentucky, passed away on Thursday, January 1, 2026 at the Medical Center in Bowling Green, KY. She was born in Detroit, Michigan on March 27, 1939. Joyce Ann was known as a devoted and loving wife, mother, friend and Granny.
Joyce Anne and her family moved to Auburn, KY when she was a child and graduated from Auburn High School in 1956. After high school, she attended the Bowling Green Business College. When Joyce Ann moved to Auburn, she met Mendell where they became high school sweethearts, marrying at Cave Springs Baptist Church in 1958. Joyce Ann and Mendell loved riding motorcycles and traveling. Together, they traveled all over the world, including Ireland, Mexico and Canada. They had two children together and built a beautiful family.
A woman strong in her Baptist faith, Joyce Ann attended church every Sunday. In her free time, she enjoyed traveling with friends and family. She had the opportunity to visit Alaska, Sweden, Russia, Hawaii and Germany. She also enjoyed shopping, flowers, drinking hot tea, was an avid reader and had an impressive collection of tea pots. She was known as loving, helpful, outgoing and friendly. Most of all, Joyce Ann appreciated time with her grandchildren.
She is preceded in death by her husband Mendell Watkins who passed in 1994, as well as her parents; father Alfred Norman Sheilds, mother Edith Golden (Kingery) Brown and her stepfather Herbert Brown.
She is survived by her two children; son Darrin Watkins (Renea) and daughter Beverly Dorris (Larry), grandchildren; Tyler Dorris (Jessica), Aaron Dorris (Anna), Cody Watkins, Colton Watkins (Karlee) and Caitlin Watkins, great-grandchildren Parker Dorris and Aubrey Yates and many nieces and nephews.
The family will accept friends on Monday, January 5 from 9AM-12PM at J.C. Kirby & Son Lovers Lane Chapel followed by internment in Bowling Green Gardens at 12PM.