Juliana Lindsay Borthwick Watkins passed away peacefully after a brief illness on Monday, January 8, 2024, in Houston, Texas. Juliana was 89 years old and lived a full and independent life. Juliana was born to Fergus MacLachlan Borthwick and Helen Lindsay Borthwick (nee Lennox) in Oranjestad, Aruba, Netherlands Antilles on Friday July 13, 1934. Her parents returned to their native Scotland in 1936 and Juliana grew up with her older brother George in Kirkintilloch, Scotland near Glasgow. As a young girl, Juliana developed an intense curiosity of the natural world, and at university she studied biology. Throughout her life she nurtured her love all living creatures.

She married Robert Russell on April 1, 1964, and over the next decade they traveled from Scotland to India, Canada, and the United States before Robert’s untimely death in Houston, Texas due to Leukemia in 1973. She met Robert Watkins, and they were married in Houston on February 19, 1975. Their marriage spanned 34 years and four continents, before they settled in Oxford, Mississippi in their retirement in 2000. Juliana loved her home and the countless creatures surrounding her yard in Oxford. She and her husband Robert were active members of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford and considered themselves to be adopted Oxfordians and Mississippians. More than once, Juliana shared that her time in Oxford was the happiest and most peaceful time of her long life.

Juliana is preceded in death by her parents, Fergus (1954) and Helen (1974), her first husband Robert Russell (1973), a nephew Gavin Borthwick (1994), her brother George Williamson Borthwick (2001), and her second husband Robert Watkins (2009). She is survived by her nephew Lachlan Borthwick (Kim) of Frome, United Kingdom, niece Rhona Borthwick (Gary) of Bristol, United Kingdom, and three stepsons: Clayton Watkins (Beth) of Wheaton, Illinois, Warren Watkins (Mai) of Houston, Texas, and David Watkins (Patricia) of Katy, Texas, a grandniece, 8 step-grandchildren, 5 step-great grandchildren, and her beloved Manx cat, Zorro.

Juliana did not wish to have formal services but to be remembered for her love of her family and all living things. As she had expressed in her final wishes, Juliana was cremated, and her ashes will be spread on the Mumbles near Swansea, Wales, United Kingdom at a future date. Memorials may be made to St. Peter’s Episcopal in Oxford, Mississippi in her name.