Anne Oliver Watson

Anne Oliver Watson, 92, of Wilmington, North Carolina, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 1, 2025, at the Lower Cape Fear Hospice Care Center. She was surrounded by her family, friends, and care team.

Born on January 24, 1933, in Richmond, Virginia, Anne was the daughter of the late Mary Eldridge Stanley and Luther Jefferson Oliver. Anne graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1950. While working at a local bank in Richmond, Anne met her future husband and love of her life, the late George Norris Watson (passed July 2, 2011). They were married on July 13, 1957, in Richmond, Virginia and moved to West Virginia for 3 years before settling in Fairfax County, Virginia for the next 42 years until 2002 when they retired to Wilmington NC.

Anne loved her time in Annandale, Virginia where she was the CEO of the Watson family. She discovered her love of gardening, developed many life-long friendships, nurtured her love of animals by caring for many cats & dogs over the years, and furthered her love of children by volunteering at the children’s schools and the local church daycare.

Anne is survived by her children:  David N. Watson of Rosemont, PA; Elizabeth W. Durham of Wilmington, NC; and Randolph O. Watson of Roswell, GA; and seven grandchildren.

A funeral service honoring her long and graceful life will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, August 16, 2025, at Masonboro Baptist Church. The family will welcome friends starting at 1:30 PM, followed by the burial in the church cemetery.

Donations can be made in her name to the Masonboro Baptist Church's Building Fund, 1501 Beasley Road, Wilmington, NC 28409.