Lettye Jo Watson

It was December 17, 1935, Woodrow Douglas and Lurene Haywood welcomed a beautiful fourteen-pound baby girl, Lettye Jo Douglas. Lettye grew up in the San Antonio area, accepted Christ at age twelve and was baptized by her Pastor Rev. V.M. Bailey at the Mt. Pleasant Missionary Baptist Church. She attended Phillis Wheatly High School where she played Volleyball, Basketball and was a Majorette in the band. She graduated from Brooks High School in Florida. She attended Texas Southern University in Houston, Texas. She was member of the Campus Queen’s court and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She was crowned Miss Bronze Texas in 1955. Later she met and married Clarence L. Watson and to this union three children were born. Pamela Jo, Allene Renee and Anthony Louis. They were a very athletic couple, Clarence taught her to play tennis and golf. As a member of the San Antonio Negro Amateur Golfers Association, Lettye would go on to become one the top female Top Flight golfers in the area winning numerous trophies. One particular that she was proud of, was for the “Longest Drive Top Flight 1975” in the San Antonio Women’s Association City Tournament. She played well into the 1980’s. She passed her love for the game of golf to her daughter Renee who lettered in Golf at Sam Houston High School and in 1981 was the only female on the team at Texas Southern. Her son is still a very active player. Lettye was certified as a Medical Technologist by the American Society of Clinical Pathologist. She was employed as a Laboratory Technician for Severance & Associates (Smith-Klein) for thirty years and retired in 2000. As a single parent, she participated in her children’s activities. Lettye was a troop leader for the Girl Scouts, supporter in all the PTAs and with Riley and Sam Houston football boosters. She remained a booster until our neighbor David Hadley graduated. She really was a Village Mom. Lettye was an active member the Willow Park Christian Church where she served as a Trustee and Sunday School Teacher under the leadership of Pastor Thomas Hadley, Sr., and later Pastor Henry Keys. Later she united with Cornergate Christian Church under the leadership of Pastor Oscar Dean. She served as a Sunday school teacher and church treasurer. She was affectionately called “Mother" or "Momma Watson,” and was known as the Mother of the church. She actively participated in the service of the Lord until the pandemic limited in-person service. She remained faithful at age eighty-five to her duties as treasurer making her last deposit the Sunday before she became ill. It was her desire to become a designer, so after retirement she became an avid seamstress. She created choir robes, dance uniforms and did alterations for church groups, friends and family. On October 9, 2021, she joined her loved ones in heavenly rest: her husband, mother, father, sisters (Karen Douglas and Virgil L. “Googie” Porter) and brother (Kenneth Douglas). Our dear Momma has stepped through the narrow circumscription of time into the illimitable expanses of eternity where her soul now doses. Those who wait to see her in the morning: Pamela Jo & B.R. Daniels, Sr., Allene Renee Watson, Dr. Rev. Anthony. L., Sr. & A. Michelle Watson; grandchildren: Lynicia Daniels, Briana & Cedric Showels, Anthony L. Watson, Jr., and Micheala Watson; three great-grandchildren: McKenna Rayelynn Allen, Levi Showels and Trenton Daniels; sister Billie Sue Sion and brother Larry Harvey; uncle Marvin Douglas; and a host of relatives, neighbors, bonus children, and friends.