Claudette F. Watson

Claudette Franklin Watson was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas on January 15, 1944 to Earthlene and Victor Franklin. She attended Townsend Park High School graduating a year early. She graduated from A M & N College (now University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff) with a degree in Elementary Education. She began her teaching career in Arkansas, where she eventually met her husband, Odester Watson. By 1969, they and their son Darren Watson had moved to Memphis, Tennessee. In October 1970, she gave birth to her second son, Rochell Watson. With two young children, her focus changed to being a stay-at-home mother. However she never lost her love for teaching. When her boys entered school themselves, she began working as a substitute in Memphis City Schools. Eventually she returned to teaching full time at Richland Elementary, where she remained until her retirement. She was also active with her church, Ward Chapel A.M.E. During her time as a member she worked with the Lay Organization, Mass Choir, Sarah Garrett Missionary Society, Stewardess Board, Young People’s Department, and also participated as a Class Leader. Her hobbies included watching soap operas, reading (everything from celebrity biographies to young adult fiction), basketball (developing a love for the Memphis Grizzlies, the University of Memphis Tigers, and a fondness for Atlanta Dream Player Angel McCoughtry and San Antonio Spurs player Tim Duncan). She especially enjoyed traveling. By virtue of visiting friends and relatives, she saw many places in the continental United States and even toured Alaska and Hawaii. Foreign locales were not outside of her interests as she visited the Bahamas and was planning a trip to Italy at the time of her death. In addition to her husband and sons, she leaves behind a loving granddaughter, Schanaque Watson, and a host of family, friends, and coworkers. The family will receive friends from 10:00 am until service time at 11:00 am, Saturday, November 16, 2013 at Ward Chapel A.M.E. Church, Memphis, Tennessee.