“God saw the road was getting rough, The hills were hard to climb, He gently closed her loving eyes, And whispered, “Peace Be Thine.” Her weary hours and days of pain, Her weary nights are past, Her ever patient, worn out frame, Has found sweet rest at last.” Lockey Beatrice Taylor Watkins Reed, a longtime resident of New Canaan died Friday February 10, in Connecticut Hospice in Branford, CT. She was 82. Mrs. Reed was born in Richmond, VA on March 12, 1929, the daughter of the late Roy and Sarah Randolph Taylor. Lockey moved to Connecticut in 1960 from Farmville, VA., to work and establish residency so that her three children could attend school. The public schools in Farmville, VA., were closed in an effort to avoid desegregation. Lockey worked for three families in New Canaan before she and her husband Sam began working together as domestics servicing many local homes. They were an inseparable team. Lockey’s love for her family made her shine. She always glowed with an infectious smile. Her babies as she called her family were most important to her. She had a green thumb and loved to have her hands in soil, planting, transplanting, and nurturing her plants as only she knew how. Lockey was predeceased by her husband Samuel D. Reed, her daughter LaFreda P. Watkins, her son Taylor Holmes Watkins, her grandson Keith Randolph Watkins, her sister Mabel C. Royal Lee, and brother Welford Randolph. Lockey is survived by her son, William O. (Butch) Watkins, his wife Beatrice (Bea) of Norwalk, CT., a daughter Maude D. Watkins of Norwalk, CT., a grandson Ronald Morton also of Norwalk, CT., a brother Charles H. Taylor of Boynton Beach, Florida, nieces, nephews, cousins and other beloved relatives and friends. “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” John 14:1-2 A private interment will be held in Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan at a later date. Contributions in memory of Mrs. Reed may be made to the Visiting Nurse and Hospice of Fairfield County, Inc., P.O. Box 489, Wilton, CT 06897. The Hoyt Funeral Home, New Canaan has charge of arrangements. For online condolences visit www.hoytfuneralhome.com