Joann N. Watson

JOANN NOVELLA WATSON entered into eternal rest on Saturday, July 20, 2019 at the age of 86. She was born in Accomack County, Virginia on April 16, 1933 to her now late parents William C. & Gertrude Watson. She was the first-born child and became the big sister to three sisters and one brother. As a child, she was baptized at First Baptist Church of Mappsville. She graduated from Mary N. Smith High School in Accomack in 1950. After graduating high school, Joann moved to Long Branch, NJ. In 1955 the rest of the Watsons moved to Baltimore, MD for better opportunities. They settled into their first home on Lanvale St. and then Darley Ave. and later Loch Raven Blvd. where Joann resided until she fell ill in March. Joann’s home on Loch Raven served the family with many memories and became a family landmark of love. While living in Long Branch, NJ, she met a military man with the same last name as she; Robert Watson, Sr. In 1959, Joann and Robert joined each other in marriage. Their wedding was held in the family home at the time on Darley Ave. As a military wife, she first lived in Arizona with her husband. The couple was later transferred to Bad Krdnadh, Germany where her only son Robert Watson, Jr. (Bobby) was born in 1961. After being stationed in Germany, the family was subsequently transferred to Panama. While in Panama her husband was deployed to Vietnam. During this time, Joann and Bobby returned to the family home in Baltimore. Sadly, Robert Watson, Sr.’s deployment to Vietnam resulted in him becoming ill and later dying at the age of 36. As a widow, Joann was bold and courageous to get up and move her residence to other major cities. She moved to the Los Angeles suburb of Culver City, CA. while there, she attended classes at West Los Angeles Community College. She later journeyed from CA. to San Antonio, TX. She was incredibly dedicated to her family and especially her parents; so much so, that she moved back to Baltimore after her father died so that her mother would not be alone. She continued her federal government career at the Government Printing Office in D.C. where she retired after over 30 years of service. After retirement with the Federal Government, Joann worked as a contractor with the Maryland Dept. of the Environment from which she retired a second time in 2012. Joann was naturally funny. She liked to joke and loved to make people laugh. In her younger years, she loved going to parties and hanging out with friends at the NCO club. Later in life, Casino outings and a stop at IHOP was among her favorite things to do. She loved country music and in her down-time she enjoyed reading tabloids and watching soap operas. She was predeceased by her sisters Sedora Barber, Carrie Watson, and Zarah Cole. She leaves to cherish her love and memory: her brother, Rufus Watson; her nieces, Marvis Brown (Dalton), Janette Daughtery (Allan), Danette Whitehead (Undray), Shayla Nealy (James); her nephews, Mark Watson, Craig Watson (Dawn), Ryan Watson (Nikisha), Kobie Cole (Kelvin); twelve great- and three great-great-nieces and nephews; her sisters-in-law, Gwen Watson, Harriett Watson; and her lifelong friends Rona Melton and Doris James; a host of other friends and relatives.

Tributes

Joann N. Watson

April 16, 1933 - July 20, 2019