ROGERS – Norma Jean Watson, age 90, of Rogers, Ark., died February 6, 2015.
Born July 3, 1924 in Pine Bluff, Ark., she was the daughter of Ruda Wright Sasser and Lucius Sasser. She was the oldest of five siblings, all sisters. During her early years, she lived in Hope, Bearden and Sheridan, Ark., and Atlanta, Texas. In 1946, she married James Jerome Watson of Sulphur Springs and lived in Pine Bluff most of their married years until his death in 2007.
Her love for education continued throughout her life. She graduated as Valedictorian of Sheridan High School in 1942. After retiring from International Paper Company, she graduated summa cum laude in 1993 at the age of 69 from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff with a degree in English. She was recognized by the Governor for highest GPA in her area.
During her lifetime in Pine Bluff, she was a member of Watson Chapel Baptist Church, Southside Baptist, and Immanuel Baptist Church where she taught adult Sunday School classes for over 50 years. She was the librarian at Watson Chapel Baptist for many years. She did volunteer work for Neighbor to Neighbor and was a trained disaster worker and office worker for the American Red Cross. In the late 1990s, she was appointed to a Senior Citizens Advocacy group by former Governor Mike Huckabee where she served for several years.
She will be most remembered for her love of family, love of education and, most of all, her love for Christ.
She is survived by a son, Dr. Larry Watson of Brenham, Texas; two daughters, Janet Brewer of Rogers, Ark., and Debbie Hamilton of Albany, Texas; one sister, Sadie Ashcraft of Benton, Ark.; seven grandchildren; and three great grandchildren.
Funeral services are scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Monday, February 9, 2015 at Watson
Chapel Baptist Church with Dr. Larry Watson and Rev. M.L. Faler officiating. Burial will be at Fitzhugh Cemetery in the Sulphur Springs community.
Visitation will be Sunday from 6:00-8:00 p.m. at Fuller Hale-South Funeral Services.
The family requests that memorials be made to Watson Chapel Baptist Church Library or Luke Brewer Adoption Fund at Youcaring.com.
Online condolenes: FullerFunerals.com