Alice C. Wattie

Alice was the only child to bless her proud parents, Alma and McKinley Shelton, in Louisa County, VA, on June 17, 1931.Alice was raised and attended school in Louisa County with her many cousins. She enjoyed hiding under porch steps, and her long, but happy walks to purchase her Maryjanes while growing up in the country, but couldn’t wait till she could move to the big city.Ms. Alice moved to Baltimore in 1952 to be closer to her favorite late aunt, Julia A. Lucas. Ms. Alice worked as a domestic for many families she also worked as a waitress and cashier for several years. She shared her radiant smile with her coworkers and kept everyone laughing after she got to know them. Few people were strangers to Ms. Alice.Ms. Alice raised four children, I. Leon Lucas, Shannon Wattie, Shawn A. Wattie, all of Baltimore, and her first born the late Harvey J. Lucas. Shandra Wattie and Alexcia Wattie were more like her daughters than granddaughters. She also had four other grandchildren, Shawntia, Bianca, Keyandra, and Rashawn Wattie, and one great granddaughter J’lynne S. Wattie.Ask anyone what made Ms. Alice jump for and they will tell you B-I-N-G-O. She played Bingo every opportunity, often taking bus trips to North Carolina, South Carolina, and West Virginia. It was not uncommon for her to play 48 boards at one time, monitoring each one with her eager eyes and ready to yell B-I-N-G-O first, to win the prize.Ms. Alice was a God fearing woman, who often meditated and read her Bible when she was troubled. She kept in touch with her children, grandchildren, and extended family on an almost daily basis. She attended United Kingdom of St. Michael Church when her health permitted.Ms. Alice was also an unofficial block captain. She knew everyone that had a legitimate reason to be in her neighborhood. Her dirty faces often discouraged criminals from allowing her to see them at work.After living in a few neighborhoods in West Baltimore, Ms. Alice moved to Frederick Avenue and created a new extended family. She was able to run the streets again and engage her neighbors in lengthy conversations, even convincing many to join her for Bingo. These activities kept her going.Ms. Alice responded to her call from God last week at the age of 74. She leaves to mourn her transition daughter, Shannon; sons, Leon and Shawn; one son-in-law, Dennis, granddaughters, Shandra, Alexciea, Shawntia, Keyandra & Bianca; one grandson, Rayshawn and her precious twin great granddaughter, J’Lynne, along with her relatives in the country and dear friends on Frederick Avenue in Baltimore.

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Alice C. Wattie

June 17, 1931 - August 16, 2005