Obituary for Billy Watts
Billy Louis Watts, was born November 12, 1942 in Iredell County, N. C., and was the son of the late Ernest Alfred Watts, Sr. and Viola Shives Watts. He departed this life on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at Iredell Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.
He attended Morningside School and graduated in the class of 1960. Billy enrolled in NCCU in 1960, where he earned an undergraduate degree with a major in English and a minor in music. His commencement exercise in was in 1964. He did further studies at the National Education Institute- Columbia University in New York in 1967; Catawba Valley Technical Institute where he received an Associate Degree in Applied Science; a Data processing Technology Degree in 1972; also Billy attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, obtaining a Master of Education Degree in 1979; Appalachian State University, receiving a Specialist in Education Degree in 1989; and Catawba Valley Community College, where he earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science- Business Computer Programming, with Phi Theta Kappa honors in 1992. Billy taught in Bel Haven, NC, and later returned to Statesville, where he was employed in the Iredell-Statesville Schools System. He was a classroom teacher, and later became an assistant principal, and supervisor. Billy’s services with the Iredell-Statesville School System, expanded for 31 years.
He served with a strong sense of dedication, determination and diligence as a member of the Carolina Region Lay Leader of the Carolina Region Annual Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church for approximately eight years. He restarted the Lay Luncheon in 2006 for the Carolina Region. Mr. Watts spent time traveling to different churches presenting Workshops on the Lay Ministry. Mr. Watts was active in the Winston Salem/Greenville District Local Lay Council.
At Holsey Memorial, Mr. Billy Watts faithfully served as Sunday School Superintendent. He had a passion for teaching God's Word. Mr. Watts often challenged people to step out of their comfort zone and to become more involved in Sunday Church School. As a result, the Sunday Church School began to grow.
Mr. Watts was actively involved and totally committed in the Financial aspect and other areas of the Church. He served as the Recording Steward for many years, and on the Social Concerns Auxiliary, and the Senior Choir. He was instrumental in getting the baby grand piano at the church. Even though Mr. Watts' health started to decline, he was concern about the welfare of the church and still continued to support the church. Often times he would make contributions and support for persons that went to college to further their education.
He has received numerous certificates and plaques honoring his work at Holsey Memorial, in the community, on the District and Annual Conference level of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Along with his solid faith, he had a great sense of humor. He often evoked laughter from others with his quick-witted responses and statements.
In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Clara Shives, and his paternal grandparents, Junious and Zora Lackey Watts; his brother, Earnest Alfred Watts, several uncles, aunts, and cousins.
He leaves to cherish the memories of his life, two nephews; Russell Alfred (Valerie) Watts, of Ayer, Massachusetts, Billy Louis Watts, of Aurora, Colorado, a niece, Tamra Sawyer; two great nieces, Shanta Sawyer, of Mooresville, and Naomi Watts, of Ayer Massachusetts; two great nephews, William Louis Watts II and David Franklin Watts, of Colorado Springs; one aunt, Beulah Watts Mack, of Statesville; a sister-in-law, Mary Agnes Watts, of Statesville; and a host of cousins, church family, and numerous friends.
He attended Morningside School and graduated in the class of 1960. Billy enrolled in NCCU in 1960, where he earned an undergraduate degree with a major in English and a minor in music. His commencement exercise in was in 1964. He did further studies at the National Education Institute- Columbia University in New York in 1967; Catawba Valley Technical Institute where he received an Associate Degree in Applied Science; a Data processing Technology Degree in 1972; also Billy attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, obtaining a Master of Education Degree in 1979; Appalachian State University, receiving a Specialist in Education Degree in 1989; and Catawba Valley Community College, where he earned an Associate Degree in Applied Science- Business Computer Programming, with Phi Theta Kappa honors in 1992. Billy taught in Bel Haven, NC, and later returned to Statesville, where he was employed in the Iredell-Statesville Schools System. He was a classroom teacher, and later became an assistant principal, and supervisor. Billy’s services with the Iredell-Statesville School System, expanded for 31 years.
He served with a strong sense of dedication, determination and diligence as a member of the Carolina Region Lay Leader of the Carolina Region Annual Conference of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church for approximately eight years. He restarted the Lay Luncheon in 2006 for the Carolina Region. Mr. Watts spent time traveling to different churches presenting Workshops on the Lay Ministry. Mr. Watts was active in the Winston Salem/Greenville District Local Lay Council.
At Holsey Memorial, Mr. Billy Watts faithfully served as Sunday School Superintendent. He had a passion for teaching God's Word. Mr. Watts often challenged people to step out of their comfort zone and to become more involved in Sunday Church School. As a result, the Sunday Church School began to grow.
Mr. Watts was actively involved and totally committed in the Financial aspect and other areas of the Church. He served as the Recording Steward for many years, and on the Social Concerns Auxiliary, and the Senior Choir. He was instrumental in getting the baby grand piano at the church. Even though Mr. Watts' health started to decline, he was concern about the welfare of the church and still continued to support the church. Often times he would make contributions and support for persons that went to college to further their education.
He has received numerous certificates and plaques honoring his work at Holsey Memorial, in the community, on the District and Annual Conference level of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church.
Along with his solid faith, he had a great sense of humor. He often evoked laughter from others with his quick-witted responses and statements.
In addition to his parents, Billy was preceded in death by his maternal grandmother, Clara Shives, and his paternal grandparents, Junious and Zora Lackey Watts; his brother, Earnest Alfred Watts, several uncles, aunts, and cousins.
He leaves to cherish the memories of his life, two nephews; Russell Alfred (Valerie) Watts, of Ayer, Massachusetts, Billy Louis Watts, of Aurora, Colorado, a niece, Tamra Sawyer; two great nieces, Shanta Sawyer, of Mooresville, and Naomi Watts, of Ayer Massachusetts; two great nephews, William Louis Watts II and David Franklin Watts, of Colorado Springs; one aunt, Beulah Watts Mack, of Statesville; a sister-in-law, Mary Agnes Watts, of Statesville; and a host of cousins, church family, and numerous friends.