Mary Evelyn Watford

Mrs. Mary Evelyn Hodges Watford died Wednesday, September 30, 2009 at the age of 95. Funeral services will be 11 a.m., Saturday, October 3, 2009 at the Graceville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Dan Rhodes and Rev. John Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in Marvin Chapel Cemetery with James & Lipford Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Graceville First United Methodist Church or the United Methodist Children's Home. Mrs. Watford was born in Holmes County, Florida and had lived in Graceville her entire life. She was a graduate of Graceville High School, received the Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education from Florida State University, and the Master of Arts Degree in School Counseling and School Administration from Troy State University. A retired teacher, she taught at Campbellton, Fadette and in Graceville for thirty-two years. She was an active member of the Graceville First United Methodist Church where she had taught Sunday School for approximately thirty years, teaching in both the junior high department and the Mary Martha Class for senior women. She had served on the Worship Committee, the Administrative Board, was church historian, and an active member of the Joy Circle. She was former member of the Honorary Teachers Sorority Delta Kappa Gamma, the Graceville Garden Club, Graceville Woman's Club and was an active member of the Jackson County Retired Teachers Association. She was a charter and life member of the Graceville Historical Society. Mrs. Watford was also a United Methodist Woman of the Year. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. A.A. Hodges; her husband Roy O. Watford; three brothers, L.C. Hodges, Millard Hodges and Buford Hodges. She is survived by her only child Roy Wallace Watford of Dothan; one sister Frances Roberts of Tallahassee, and one brother Joe Bill Hodges of Graceville. She is also survived by one niece, Sharon Roberts Young and her husband Randy of Atlanta and a great nephew, Andrew Young. Pallbearers will be John Barker Turner, Lee Miller, Patrick Pelham, Rob Martin, Charles Martin, Jr., Dan Burdeshaw, Pat Burdeshaw, Scott Howell and Henry Ezell.