Mrs. Bettye E. Watson peacefully entered her eternal rest on Monday, November 16, 2020 at the Anne Arundel Medical Center in Annapolis, MD. She was born on November 17, 1933 to the late Mr. Benjamin F Means and Mrs. Elizabeth Mims Means.

She was married to the late Willie “Pete” Watson and their union produced seven children. She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.

In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by: three sons, Emmett, Willie Paul and Frederick; and three grandsons, Gerald (Maceo), Gerald Jr. (Lil Watt) and Jamie.

Mother Watson was a devoted member of Cornerstone Baptist Church for over sixty-five years where she served in many capacities throughout the years including: Gospel Choir, Mother’s Board, Young at Heart, and the Austin Street Sympathy Club. She attended faithfully until her health began to decline. Upon leaving the Spartanburg area she was able to attend services at Galilee Baptist Church in Suitland, MD.

Mrs. Bettye was a graduate of Carver High School Class of 1951. She attended South Carolina State College. She retired from Phillips Fibers in 1995 after many years of service.

She leaves to cherish her memory: three sons, Gerald Watson, Darrell Watson and Casey Teamer all of Spartanburg, SC; two daughters, Janice Watson and Sabrina Watson-Jackson (Odell) of Bowie, MD; her great-granddaughter, and the apple of her eye, Lohgan Smith, who lived in the home with her for the last 2-1/2 years; nineteen grandchildren; thirty great-grandchildren; her seven great-great grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Mrs. Jessie Mae Watson of Spartanburg, SC and Mrs. Annie Pearl Means of Columbia, SC; and her eleven bonus daughters, Sallie Rose Hunter, Willie Mae Jones and Phoebe Meadors (Alfred) all of Spartanburg, SC, Lisa Elmore of Moore, SC, Brenda Taylor (Joseph), Brenda Yates (Paul), Brenda Thompson, Toni Walker (Jeffrey), Felicia Redding (Marion) all of Maryland, Jerrett Wright (Robert) and JaNelle Latney both of Washington, DC.

Mrs. Watson will lie in state on Friday, November 27, 2020 at The John Stinson Woodward Memorial Chapel.

A Private Family Celebration of the Life of Bettye E. Watson will be held on Saturday, November 28, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at The John Stinson Woodward Memorial Chapel, 602 Howard St., Spartanburg, SC. Extended family and friends are invited to greet the family following the interment at the Cedar Grove Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, 478 Cedar Grove Rd., Jonesville, SC.