Mother of Local Attorney Expires In Walton Home
Mrs. Octavia Watson Will Be Buried Near Freeport Today
Mrs. Octavia A. Watson, a member of one of the South’s most distinguished families, and mother of William H. Watson, Pensacola attorney, died in her DeFuniak Springs home yesterday. She was 88 years old and had been in failing health, suffering injuries in a fall at her home a short while ago.
Mrs. Watson was born October 1, 1851, in Dale county. Ala., and was a descendant of the North Carolina Bloodworth and DeVane families. Her father Timothy Wade Bloodworth died of wounds received with the Confederate forces during the Civil war. On her mother’s side she was related to W. R. King, rice, president under President Franklin Pierce.
Moving to Florida in 1870, she was married at Freeport in 1875 to John William Watson who was killed in the explosion of the steam- boat C. Fischer, of which he was master, in 1880. The explosion occurred at the mouth of Choctawhatchee bay.
Surviving are four children, William H. Watson, of Pensacola, John Franklin Watson, an attorney living in Walla Walla, Wash., Edward Patrick Watson of Long Beach, Calif.; Mrs. C. W. Ellenberg of DeFuniak Springs; four grandchildren, Lt. W. H. Watson, USN; James B. Watson, member of the law firm of which his father is a partner here, Mrs. Lewis Rogers of Gainesville, and Miss Frances Ellenberg of DeFuniak Springs.
Funeral services will be held at the grave in the Hatcher cemetery near Freeport, at 3 p.m., Sunday, the cortege leaving the Watson home in DeFuniak Springs at 2:15 p.m. Dr. P. H. Hudson, pastor of the DeFuniak Springs Methodist church, will conduct the services and the following will serve as pallbearers: G. B. Campbell, John L. McKinnon, Senator D. Stuart Gillis, Ben Morris and W. I. Stinson. Wickersham is in charge of arrangements.
[Source: Pensacola News-Journal, 8 October 1939, Page 1]
[Burial: Hatcher Cemetery, Freeport]