Elizabeth Law Watkins

ELIZABETH LAW WATKINS, 92, Professor and Beloved Aunt

Elizabeth Watkins died quietly in her sleep March 19 at Westminster Retirement Community, VA, after a brief illness. Dr. Watkins made a heart-filled impression on everyone she met, known for being a witty, wise, intelligent, and gracious person; and one who left the world a better place than she found it.

Dr. Watkins initially pursued a degree in journalism at Bryn Mawr. But after seeing human suffering, she thought, “I can’t just write about this. I have to do something about it.” In changing the course of her education, she changed and improved the course of many lives.

Professionally, Dr. Watkins was a powerhouse in her field, named among the top ten influential social workers of all time. She trailblazed the alliance of public health with social work, helping to reshape the form and execution of Public Health in the university and in the field, responding to cultural changes as opportunities to widen the dimensions of the field of Public Health. While on faculty at Case Western Reserve, she developed field work placements in the newly formed community-based health clinics. While on faculty at the University of North Carolina, she helped establish a dual degree program between Social Work and Public Health. Her consultation was sought by state and public health agencies, federal health programs, schools of public health, and schools of social work.

Charter Member of National Association of Social Workers, Dr. Watkins was the recipient of NASW’s Lifetime Achievement Awarded in Health and Mental Health Practice. The Social Work Section of the American Public Health Association awarded her the 1988 Outstanding Achievement Award. She was the first non-physician President of the Association of Teachers of Maternal and Child Health for which she received the Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Watkins published papers focusing on making high quality health services available to minority women and children, particularly migrant workers. Her career also included positions in County and Federal agencies.

Dr. Watkins’ distinguished career includes numerous ground-breaking achievements. (The NASW Foundation website has an in-depth professional history.) After her retirement (1989) and relocation to Westminster, she continued to be active in public and professional affairs and serve on local committees. She contributed her skills and made close friends wherever she went.

As dynamic and eminent as was Dr. Watkins’ professional life, her personal life was richly fun, caring, and supportive to many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins–and their spouses and friends–who knew her as Isby. Whether in America or Europe, everyone looked forward to Aunt Isby’s visits. Her unerring sense of compassion made her a favorite. Isby was a thoughtful observer of people, and always advocated in their best interest. She inspired those who loved her and demonstrated how to accept change in the most difficult of circumstances. She was a mother figure and teacher to her extended family until her death.

Elizabeth Law Watkins was educated at Bryn Mawr College (1944, cum laude), Case Western Reserve (1950, MSSA), and Harvard School of Public Health (1958, Master and, 1966, Doctor of Science of Hygiene). She was the youngest daughter of C. Law and Marie M. (Bader) Watkins, born in New York in 1923. She is survived by her half-brother Law Watkins of Maryland and was predeceased by her siblings Thomas Hamer Watkins, Gladys Marie Giese, and Ann Woods.

The family requests you remember Elizabeth with donations in her name to the NASW Memorial and Tribute Fund. A private memorial service for family and close friends will be held May 16 (571-229-7550). Funeral services by Miller Funeral Home, Woodbridge, VA.