Jimmy ‘Big Daddy’ Watson

Published 10:18 am Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Funeral services for Jimmy “Big Daddy” Watson will be Thursday, June 24, 2015, at 10 a.m. at Ray Funeral Home with burial at North Cleveland Cemetery. Rev. Bob Hill will be officiating. Pallbearers will be friends of the family, Glen Bowlin, Steven Jennings, Daryl Lara, Brandon Warren, Taylor Shaffer, Keith Hewitt, Kelly Brackin and Michael Powell. Honorary pallbearers will be his co-workers from Trunkline Gas. Ray Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be held Tuesday, June 23, 2015, from 5 until 8 p.m. at Ray Funeral Home.

Mr. Watson, 80, of Wesson, formerly of Cleveland, died at his home on Sunday, June 21, 2015. He was born Aug. 10, 1934, in Webster County to Clarence Arnold and Iva Hazzard Watson.

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He graduated from Merigold High School in 1953, enlisted in the Army and served in occupied Germany for three years. Jimmy married Laverne Hays in 1957 at Calvary Baptist Church where he remained a member until his illness. They resided in Cleveland for 54 of those years before moving to Wesson. Jimmy retired from Trunkline Gas after 30 years. He loved fishing and hunting with his boys and spending time with his lifetime friends that he made when he moved to Merigold at 12 years old from Alva. He was a member of The American Legion, the VFW and The Cleveland Moose Lodge.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his brother, John Watson of Grenada; and two sisters, Helen Watson Beasley of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Sarah Watson Sullivan of Natchez.
Survivors are his wife of 57 years, Laverne; four children, Jo Donna Watson (A.B. Cox) of Cleveland, Stacy Powell (Buddy) of Summit, Dr. Bob Watson (Dr. Diane) of Brookhaven, and Bo Watson of Wesson; grandchildren, Mike Powell (Rachel) of Brookhaven, Justin Watson of Cleveland, Kristi Orr (Guy) of McComb, Caroline Watson Metairie, Louisiana, Colton, Cameron, Carter and Cade Watson of Wesson, Madelyn Patrick of Birmingham, Alabama, Dalton Watson of Greenville and Paul Cox (Dene) of Cleveland; and great-grandchildren, Kennedy and Cecile Powel, Parker and Jacks Watson, and Trace and Shannon Cox.
Memorials may be made to Calvary Baptist Church on Bishop Rd. in Cleveland, MS or to the charity of one’s choice.

To view and sign the online guestbook, go to www.rayfuneralhome.net.