Betty McCaffrey Watts

Betty was born in Pensacola, Florida on August 8, 1927 to F.G. “Mac” and Pearlie Harrison McCaffrey. Following the death of her father, Betty, her mother, and sister Frankie relocated to the Greenville, AL area to live with her grandparents, John and Jessie Cole Harrison, until her mother married Curtis Stinson. The family remained in the Greenville area and added 4 more sisters – Neomia, Maxine, Jerri, and Emma.

In 1951, Betty married John Henry Watts and began the life of a military spouse, returning to Greenville during John’s lengthy deployments. Together they became parents to James McCaffrey Watts and Janet Sue Watts, and lived in Charlotte, NC for the majority of their marriage of just days short of 61 years at the time of John’s death.

Over the course of her life, Betty’s work experience included the Merrimac Hat Factory in Greenville, a cosmologist, a food services worker for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School System, a therapist at the Keith Clinic of Chiropractic Charlotte, and with her husband John co-owner of Watts Remodeling, Inc. of Charlotte. Betty also served as a Sunday school teacher, Boy Scout Den Mother, and volunteer with Agape of NC.

Betty felt humor was a very important part of life and brought much joy and laughter with the sharing of her stories of the adventures and antics of her life, of which there were many over her 97 years. She would often say, “remember me with laughter.”

Betty was baptized and became a Christian in 1948 at the Walnut Street Church of Christ in Greenville, Alabama. Her faith guided her life and her belief in God, Christ, and her heavenly home were her peace. She strove to live a life of service and would say “don’t block my blessing” when seeking to help.

Betty lived in Charlotte, NC and then Concord, NC until 2021 when she returned to live in Greenville, AL and to worship with the Walnut Street Church of Christ for the remainder of her life.

Betty loved people and adopted all as family that came into her life and loved them as her very own.

Betty was preceded in death by her husband John Henry Watts, son James McCaffrey Watts, parents F. G. “Mac” McCaffrey, Pearlie McCaffrey Stinson, and Curtis Stinson, parents-in-law Henry and Bertha Watts, sisters Frankie Stepp and Maxine Green, and brother Curtis Stinson, Jr.

Betty is survived by daughter Janet Watts, sisters Neomia Collins, Jerri Davis, Emma Fell (Gene), children of heart Effie and Doug Baily, Bob and Jennifer Marcik, Pam and Kirk Sams, grandchildren - Melissa (Baily) and Andy King, Rusty Baily, Ashley (Marcik) and James Fisher, Kyle and Brooklyn Marcik, Hillary (Sams) and Dean Meadows, Caleb and Courtney Sams, Graham and Blair Carter, great-grandchildren Cassie King, Amia King Moody, Tayven, Daxton, and Teaghan Fisher, Lilly Marcik, Nora, Wren, Amos, and Darcy Meadows, Lily Sams, Cade and Brooks Carter, and all who called her mom, Mama Betty, Aunt Betty, Miss Betty, sister, friend, mentor and family.

A memorial service will be held in Alabama at the Walnut Street Church of Christ, 306 Walnut Street, Greenville, AL on Saturday, May 24th at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

A memorial service will be held in North Carolina at the Kannapolis Church of Christ, 2315 Concord Lake Road, Kannapolis, NC on May 31st at 3:00 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Interment will be at Pleasant Grove Memorial Park Cemetery in Charlotte, NC.

In lieu of flowers, Betty requested the consideration of a donation to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital at stjude.org.