Texanna Watson (Lansing)

Ms. Texanna Watson was born on July 22, 1929, the tenth of 10 children, to the late Joe and Roxanna Watson in Camden, Alabama. She transitioned to her heavenly home on Sunday, September 8, 2019 at Regency Lansing West. Texanna confessed Christ and was baptized at an early age, and joined St. Emanuel Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Willie P. Jones. There she was Choir President.

Texanna graduated from Camden Academy in 1951. Before making Lansing her permanent residence in 1957, Texanna also lived in Chicago, Illinois and Youngstown, Ohio. She attended Nursing School in Lansing, Michigan which led to her nursing career at Lansing General Hospital; retiring in 1994 after more than 30 years of service. Over the course of her career she was a hard worker, with a strong work ethic, often working multiple jobs to ensure the financial security of her family.

Mother Watson was a faithful soldier in the Army of the Lord. Over the course of her life, she attended and was a faithful member at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Carruthers, Friendship Baptist Church, and a founding member of New Mt. Calvary Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend Ferdinand Fritz, his successor Reverend Columbus Clayton and currently Reverend Lonnie Chip. At New Mt. Calvary she served as a member of the Pastor’s Aide and the Mother’s Board. She is credited with naming Little Rock Baptist Church, where Reverend Will Stokes is pastor. Socially, Texanna was a longstanding member of the Order of Eastern Star.

She was proceeded in death by her parents, Joe and Roxanna Watson; sisters, Alma Lee Watson, Maggie Lee “Auntie” Wiggins, Ceola “Honey Pie” Jones, Mary “Sis” Watson; brothers, Henry Forest, Johnnie, and Arnold Watson; nieces Bernice, DeLoise, and Joyce Hattaway; and nephews, Johnnie Jr., Wilfred, Edward Watson, and Larry Jones.

She leaves to cherish her memory, one child JoEl Clifford (Marcia) Watson of Lansing, MI; two sisters Dora Mae Murphy, and Lela Mae Hattaway of Camden, AL; two grandchildren, Nyshell (Jonathan) Lawrence of Lansing, MI and Mariah Watson of Ann Arbor, MI; four great-grandchildren, Joelle, Olyvia, Emerson and Imari; special nieces Barbara Watson, Linda (Julisus) Davis of Lansing, MI, Peggy and Carolyn Hattaway, Vivian Jones of Camden, AL, and Juanita Mendenhall, Loise Watson of Pascagoula, MS; special nephews Edgar (Ardella) Jones of Camden, AL, Albert and Tommie Watson of Pascagoula, MS, Sam (Gina)and Bruce Jones of Lansing, MI; and a host of great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, other relatives and close friends.