Nelda Jenkins Watson

Nelda J. “Nell” Watson was born in Winnfield, LA on September 15, 1933, and passed away in Baton Rouge, LA on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the age of 92. She was a retired banker, where she was vice president of branch operations. She was the first female bank vice president, at the time, in the state of Louisiana. She loved to travel with friends in the One Americans Club, absolutely loved and followed LSU sports (especially Men’s Baseball and Women’s Basketball), and adored flowers and plants (especially poinsettias at Christmas). She also loved reading to younger members of the Boys and Girls Club of Louisiana. She is survived by her son, Lt. Col. Clark Emmett Watson, USMC Ret.; her stepson, Robert Lee Watson and wife Robin; nieces: Reggie Ann Wyatt and JoEllen Kasparek; and nephew, Col. Thomas Plunkett. She is preceded in death by her mother and father, Lois Inez Jenkins and Andrew Jenkins; and two sisters, Eloise Plunkett and Emma Jo Carpenter. Visitation will be on Monday, February 16, at Rabenhorst Funeral Home East, 11000 Florida Blvd, from 5:30pm until 7pm. Visitation will resume on Tuesday morning at 8:30am until service at 9am in the funeral home chapel. Burial will be at Port Hudson National Cemetery in Zachary, LA at 11am.