Amy S Watson

Amy S. L. Watson departed this life on December 20, 2017 at the age of 98. She was born April 4, 1919 to the late Edward and Edwortha T. Branker Smith in Bridgeport, C.T. The family moved to New Rochelle, N. Y., when she was five and at the age of ten moved to Mount Vernon, N.Y., where she lived until 1984.

Her family joined Grace Baptist Church and at the age of twelve, she was baptized by the late Reverend J. Dillard Levister.

Amy attended Mount Vernon schools and graduated from H.B. Davis High School in 1936 at the age of 16. She attended Yonkers Collegiate Center (Branch of New York City College) and the Y.W.C.A Business School in New York City.

She was always into music in some form and the reason was very simple. In a family of seven children, they all had music lessons (piano, voice, violin and organ) and could all read and relate to all music types of music well performed. She sang in the church choirs and at times, played the piano for Sunday school. She played the violin in the school orchestra (from age 10 to 16) and sang in the school music groups and with the Philharmonic Glee Club of Westchester for a number of years.

She served as “Mistress of Ceremonies” of many Teas, programs and fashion shows and enjoyed every assignment. Amy worked in Washington, D.C. for O.S.S (Office of Strategic Services) during World War II. She served as secretary and church clerk of Grace Baptist Church and also worked for the city of Mount Vernon until her retirement in 1984 when she moved to Phoenix, Arizona with her husband, Garford Watson.

She joined North Phoenix Baptist Church in 1986 and loved her Bible Study Class. She played the piano at Desert Sky Health Center (formerly Colter Village) since 1985 (when her aunt was a resident) Playing there every Thursday developed into weekly inspirational services with George Herndon and Daryl Eddy of North Phoenix Baptist Church bringing “The Word”.

She was married in 1943 to John Lucas and was blessed with two children, Tommy and Patricia. Amy then married Garford Watson in 1969 and God blessed them with 25 years together.

Amy was a “Stutterer” all her life but she was blessed with family, relatives, friends and others who showed infinite patience when conversing with her.

Amy leaves to rejoice in her memory her daughter, Patricia Jones, grandchildren, Ivan and Shannon Jones; stepson Bruce Watson, six great grandchildren, Tiffany, Kayshawn, Ivan, Jonae, Jamia and Heavyn, 3 great great-grandchildren, Xavier, Chase, and Mason. A Niece, Wendy Greenlee and a host of relatives and friends especially Sara and Hayden. Her son Tommy, husband Garford, brother Theodore, sisters Claire, Ruth, Enid, Naomi, Ina, nephew George Earle (pre-deceased).