Rilla Mae Watson
August 26, 1926 ~ September 16, 2022 (age 96) 96 Years Old
Tribute
Rilla Mae (Nickname: Billie) (Maness) Watson 93, passed away peacefully at The Laurels in Pittsboro, NC. On September 16, 2022. She was surrounded by her loved one when she left to be with our Lord.
Rilla Mae (Billie) was born on August 26, 1929, in Rockingham, N.C. She was the fourth of four children of John Pleasant Maness and Maude (Melton) Maness. Billie loved her family, and was given the nickname of Billie by her brother Legrande Maness when she was a kid growing up in Rockingham, N.C. The Maness parents were Cotton Mill workers and were very dedicated to family and work. As the children begin growing up, and World War II began, family economies became tough, and Billie found a job at the Woolworth 5 & dime at 17 in Rockingham, N.C., this is where she met her husband John H. Watson, Sr. of Hoffman, N.C. They were married for 68 years. She loved the beach, setting in the sun watching and talking to people, even if they were strangers. She loved feeding her hummingbirds, which she would sit on the back porch and watch for hours. Billie enjoyed dressing up in her Sunday best and continued this mind-set until she was unable to dress herself.
She was the daughter of the late John P Maness Sr. and Maude (Melton) Maness of Rockingham, North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her husband John H Watson Sr; Daughter Sandra Watson Bailey; a granddaughter Angela Watson Morrison; her brother John P. Maness Jr. of Rockingham, North Carolina; and Sister Hazel Maness Covington, of Rockingham, North Carolina.
She is survived by her daughter Gloria Watson Edwards and husband Dean of Little River, South Carolina; son John H. Watson Jr. and wife Retta of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren: and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother LeGrande Maness of Georgia; and many friends, neighbors and loved ones.
A graveside service will be at Eastside Cemetery on Monday, September 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Jason Moore officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to the gravside service at Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Roberdel Baptist Church 1118 Richmond Rd. Rockingham, NC 28379.
Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is serving the Watson family.
Rilla Mae (Billie) was born on August 26, 1929, in Rockingham, N.C. She was the fourth of four children of John Pleasant Maness and Maude (Melton) Maness. Billie loved her family, and was given the nickname of Billie by her brother Legrande Maness when she was a kid growing up in Rockingham, N.C. The Maness parents were Cotton Mill workers and were very dedicated to family and work. As the children begin growing up, and World War II began, family economies became tough, and Billie found a job at the Woolworth 5 & dime at 17 in Rockingham, N.C., this is where she met her husband John H. Watson, Sr. of Hoffman, N.C. They were married for 68 years. She loved the beach, setting in the sun watching and talking to people, even if they were strangers. She loved feeding her hummingbirds, which she would sit on the back porch and watch for hours. Billie enjoyed dressing up in her Sunday best and continued this mind-set until she was unable to dress herself.
She was the daughter of the late John P Maness Sr. and Maude (Melton) Maness of Rockingham, North Carolina.
She was preceded in death by her husband John H Watson Sr; Daughter Sandra Watson Bailey; a granddaughter Angela Watson Morrison; her brother John P. Maness Jr. of Rockingham, North Carolina; and Sister Hazel Maness Covington, of Rockingham, North Carolina.
She is survived by her daughter Gloria Watson Edwards and husband Dean of Little River, South Carolina; son John H. Watson Jr. and wife Retta of Knoxville, Tennessee; five grandchildren: and nine great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother LeGrande Maness of Georgia; and many friends, neighbors and loved ones.
A graveside service will be at Eastside Cemetery on Monday, September 19, 2022 at 2:00 p.m. with Rev. Jason Moore officiating. The family will receive friends from 12:30-1:30 p.m. prior to the gravside service at Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Roberdel Baptist Church 1118 Richmond Rd. Rockingham, NC 28379.
Online condolences may be made at www.watson-kingfuneralhome.com Watson-King Funeral Home in Rockingham is serving the Watson family.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Rilla Mae Watson, please visit our floral store.
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