He departed from this life to his eternal home with Jesus on August 24, 2019. He was surrounded by his loving family when he died at age 86 in his home in Nashville, Tennessee after a courageous battle with cancer. Dr. Watson was born May 9, 1933 in Birmingham, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his father, Joseph Oliver Watson, his mother, Mattie Lynn Robinson Watson, and brothers Adrian Oliver Watson and James William Watson. He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Francis Gilmer Watson; a son, Alan Eugene Watson (Nancy) of Birmingham, Alabama; a son, Stephen Mark Watson (Sally, M.D) of Nashville, Tennessee; a daughter, Annette Watson Garrison (Bill) of Birmingham, Alabama; a daughter, Susan Carol Watson Richards (Fred) of Madison, Mississippi; sister Joan Rawson of Pensacola FL, Brothers Jo Watson (Evelyn) of Troy Alabama, David Watson (Rosemary) of Fairhope Alabama. He graduated from Phillips High School and The University of Alabama. He earned his M.D. from The Medical College of Alabama in 1957. He completed his residency training in orthopedic surgery at Walter Reed Hospital in 1963. He served in the U.S. Army as an orthopedic surgeon from 1964 to 1967, and practiced orthopedic medicine in Birmingham, Alabama from 1967 to 1986. From 1987 to 1998, and 2002 to 2015, he served as an Assistant Professor of Orthopedics and Rehabilitation at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Nashville VA Medical Center. He practiced at Watson Primary Care, PLLC in Nashville from 2005 to 2015 and also did volunteer medical mission work in several foreign countries around the world. He and his wife, Francis, were active members of Bellevue Baptist Church, where he taught Sunday school and served as a Deacon. He also enjoyed watching football, boating, and fishing with his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren. Visitation will be held at Bellevue Baptist Church on Wednesday, August 28, 2019 from 9:30 to 11 a.m. A celebration of life will take place in the sanctuary at 11:00 a.m. with Pastor Mike Shelton officiating. A private graveside service will be held at Woodlawn Cemetery at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bellevue Baptist Church or a favorite charity. The family would like to thank Dr. James Powers, the Vanderbilt University gastroenterology and oncology departments, Guardian Hospice, and all care givers for their professional and compassionate care.
