Azzie M. Watts

Azzie Marie Watts was born on May 9, 1950 to the late Ed and Mary Louise Banks in Oneida, Arkansas. Azzie passed away peacefully at her home in Houston, Texas on May 16, 2023.

At a very young age, she gave her life to the Lord (The Most High) at Amos Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, Arkansas under the leadership of Rev. S.H. Banks. It was there that she discovered her gift of song. She blessed her community and praised The Most High with this gift. Azzie was a longstanding member of Windsor Village United Methodist Church in Houston, Texas.

Azzie graduated in 1968 from Merrill High School in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. It was in high school that she discovered her passion for social work. She was the first in her family to acquire a college degree receiving her Bachelors from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and her Masters in Social Work from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. During her practicum with the Department of Veterans Affairs, she found her true calling. This stemmed from a desire to work with veterans, and since her brother was a decorated purple heart recipient from his tour in Vietnam. Prior to her time at the VA, she served her community in various positions of social work including but not limited to working with children and the acute mentally ill. Overton Brooks Veterans Administration in Shreveport, Louisiana hired her in 1989, and her service to veterans covered ARKLATEX. John A. McClellan VA Medical Center was her second post in Little Rock, Arkansas with her last post being in Houston, Texas at the Michael E. Debakey VA Medical Center. Azzie retired after thirty years of dedicated service as a clinical social worker to veterans and her community. Veterans had a special place in her heart always.

Azzie was preceded in death by her parents and brother, Carl Lester Banks. She leaves to cherish her memory her daughter, Kia N. Watts of Houston, Texas, extended family, friends and former co-workers.