Funeral service for Etta Josephine (Joyce) Watson, 87, of Wellborn, will be 2 pm Friday, April 13, 2018, at St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church with the Rev. John Carlisto officiating. Interment will follow at Anniston Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at Gray Brown-Service Mortuary on Thursday evening from 6 – 8 pm. Mrs. Watson will lie in state one hour prior to the service at the church. Mrs. Watson passed away on Tuesday, April 10, 2018 at RMC.
She is survived by three daughters, Denise Dodd (Mike) of Wellborn, Teresa Norton (Mike) of Jacksonville and Linda Wilkins of Winnsboro, TX; one son, Durrah (Dud) Watson (Renae) of Jacksonville; seven grandchildren, Michael Dodd, Jennifer Campbell (Scott), Scott Wilkins (Jessica), Lauren Jacob (Paul), Grant Watson, Kaitlyn Watson and Landon Sims (April); twelve great-grandchildren; many nieces and nephews and a very special sister-in-law, Imogene Sprayberry.
Pallbearers will be Grant Watson, Durrah (Dud) Watson, Landon Sims, Randy Heath, Curtis Heath and Cameron Heath. Honorary pallbearer will be Michael Dodd.
Joyce was born in Roanoke, Virginia on February 2, 1931. She made Calhoun County her home where she married the love of her life, William (Dud) Watson. She graduated from Oxford High School. She was a member of St. Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church for 67 years, where she served as a Sunday School teacher. She worked for South Central Bell Telephone Company and also worked and retired as secretary for the assistant principal at Wellborn High School, where she loved and touched the hearts of many children. Joyce was a member of the United Daughters of the Confederacy-General William H. Forney. She loved life, was a Christian who fully trusted in God. She was a loving mother, grandmother and friend, whose kind acts of compassion will be missed by all. Joyce is preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, William (Dud) Watson; her parents, Ed and Hallie Leahey; and a sister, Lois Faerber.
The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks for the loving care given to their beloved mother and grandmother by Linda Ashworth and the professional staff of the 5th floor of RMC for their special attention given during this difficult time. Flowers will be accepted or donations may be made to St. Michaels and All Angels Church.
“Rest in peace my mother, my best friend, for you and daddy are now together again. Both of you will always live in our hearts forever” Online condolences may be made at www.graybrownservice.com
