Calvin Benjamin Watson

Calvin Benjamin Watson was born July 18, 1930, at his family homestead located at 620 S. 22nd Street in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He attended 2nd Baptist Church there along with his family. He joined the Air Force and married Bernice Louise Howard. During the Korean War served as an Airman assigned as a teletype operator encoding and decoding communications for an airbase.

Calvin and Bernice (Bee) raised four children: Teresa, Aaron, Brian, and Nathan in New Orleans, Louisiana. Calvin attended the University of Arkansas and graduated with a degree in Political Science. He worked for the Department of Agriculture as a grain inspector. He spent most of his work life working for and ultimately managing several export grain elevators along the Mississippi River, a little north of New Orleans.

He served at First Baptist Church of New Orleans both as a deacon and as president of the Board of the Deacons and then likewise later at Faith Baptist Church also in New Orleans. Later in life after the death of Bernice, he remarried to Mary Williams who was a widow. The Watson and Williams families had all attended First Baptist Church of New Orleans and were friends.

Calvin was an active Gideon in both New Orleans, Louisiana and LaSalle, Illinois. He faithfully handed out scriptures up until his death at age 92. His faithfulness served as an inspiration to many others. He also faithfully prayed for each family member daily by name and kept up with family birthdays, anniversaries, and holidays.

Calvin was preceded in death by his father and mother: Mr. Charles Robert Watson and Alma Catherine Watson; his brother, Robert Watson; his 2nd spouse, Mary Williams Watson (13 years of marriage); and 1st wife, Bernice Louise (Howard) Watson (affectionately “Bee”) (53 years of marriage).

He is survived by his brother John Dewey Watson and his wife Sandy of Little Rock, Ar.; his children: Teresa Bryan and her husband, Holmes Bryan of Highland, Ca., Aaron Watson and his wife, Maria Watson of Ft. Bragg, Ca., Brian Watson and his wife, Cheri Watson of Watauga, Tx. and Nathan Watson and his wife, Michelle Watson of LaSalle, Il.

“Pops” is also survived by his grandchildren: Benjamin (Kris) Bryan, Jonathan Bryan, Sarah (Josh) Harris, Bethany Bryan, Noelle (Jordan) Martinez, Marisa (David) Norris, Deborah Rachelle (Grant) Flowers, Jennifer (Mason) Maloney, Ashley (Mitch) Seneff, James Watson, Wade Watson, Scott (Ruby) Watson, Mallory (Grant) Halbleib, and Mackenzie (Brady) Hamiel.

He is finally survived by his great-grandchildren: Eli Bryan, Rowan Harris, Abram Harris, Julian Harris, Ryu Martinez, Elizabeth Norris, Stephan Norris, Karsyn Maloney, Levi Seneff, Averie Seneff, and Miles Hamiel.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service will be held at Faith Baptist Church, 7902 S Claiborne Avenue in New Orleans, on Friday, February 17, 2023 at 11 AM. A visitation will begin at 10:40 AM.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations for the purchase of Bible’s be made in his honor at Gideons.Org.