Ouida Lindsay Watson

Ouida spent her early life in Alabama. Born September 17, 1950 in Birmingham, Ouida began her schooling and her lifelong love of learning in Acipco, Al. There she also began singing, joining the children’s choir at Acipco Baptist Church. She went on to graduate from Phillips High School in Birmingham and then from the University of West Florida.

Ouida’s professional career began in Birmingham, where she taught high school health and physical education, earned an M.A. and a Certificate of Advanced Study in Education, and developed AIDS/HIV education curriculum for the public schools. When she joined the Alabama Department of Education she served as a Curriculum Development and Technology specialist. On moving to Raleigh she served as a federal grants administrator and regional technology consultant for the NC Department of Public Instruction.

Ouida’s advocacy and justice work took center stage in her retirement. She shared energy, wisdom, time, and talent with so many causes and the organizations that heralded them: she was particularly invested in public education, voter rights, defending democracy, working against Christian Nationalism, and creation care.

Ouida found a home for her progressive faith at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church and Umstead Park UCC. Both communities mourn her loss and celebrate the vibrancy with which she lived.

Ouida was preceded in death by her mother, Ouida Fay Watson, her brother James Merril Clark, and her son Richard Gregory Myers.

She is survived by her son John Christopher Myers and his fiancé Beverly Bornmann, and by cousins Mark Conradi, Timothy Conradi, Kay Marshall, Nancy Blaikie Tray, and Paula B Turner.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at 1:00 in the afternoon at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church (Raleigh, NC).

If you knew Ouida through her work with a justice organization, you are invited to make a donation in her honor there. Donation acknowledgments can be sent to John Myers via [email protected] or to Brown-Wynne Funeral Home, 300 Saint Mary's Street, Raleigh, NC 27605. Otherwise, please consider making a donation to Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Umstead Park UCC, and Healing Transitions.