Wessie Watford

James Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel Wessie Rae Oswald of Greenwood passed away March 10, 2014, at Marianna Health Rehabilitation Center. She was 105. Wessie Rae was born June 1, 1908, in Midland City, Alabama, to Andrew Wyatt Ocia Williams Smith. In 1917 she moved to Crosby, Alabama, where she completed grades 4 through 9 before graduating from Malone High School in 1926. In 2007 she was recognized as being the oldest living Malone High School Alumnus. On June 16, 1926, she married William Max Oswald in Miami, Florida. Wessie Rae graduated from Troy State College and taught school in the Jackson County school system for 33 years, retiring in 1970. While visiting her daughter in Vientiane, Laos, she tutored American children for two years. She and her daughter made an extensive tour of Europe before Wessie's return to Greenwood in 1972. Also in her retirement years, she went on numerous bus tour trips throughout the U.S. served twelve years on the Greenwood Town Council. Later in life, she married long-time family friend Charles Leslie Watford of Greenwood, who died in 1984. She was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Greenwood, where she served on the Church Board was a member of the Greenwood First United Methodist Women, serving in several capacities. Wessie enjoyed many life-long interests which she pursued with much enthusiasm and expertise. They included crafts, cooking, sewing, quilting, crocheting and crewel. Her beautiful crewel pieces, quilts, crocheted afghans and baby afghans are treasured by her many family members. She helped organize the Greenwood Home Makers club and served as its President for over twenty years. The Home Makers principal project was making bandages and caps for cancer patients. Wessie Rae is survived by her five children: Myra Jean Oswald Godwin and husband James, of Atlantic Beach, Maxine Oswald Ochs of Crestview, Margaret Oswald Smith of Fort Walton Beach, Billy Oswald wife, Lucretia Trollinger Oswald, of Havana, and Jack Oswald wife, Dianne Taylor Oswald, of Marianna. Wessie was especially proud of her 13 grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and 9 great great grandchildren. The family wishes to extend a special thanks to Vickie Fowler for her help while our mother was at home and for helping to ease her transition to the nursing home. We also want to thank staff and employees at the Marianna Health Rehabilitation Center for their care and assistance. Funeral services will be held at James Sikes Funeral Home, Maddox Chapel, 4278 West Lafayette, Marianna, Florida, March 14, 2014, at 11:00 a.m., with Reverend John Kramer officiating. Interment will follow at the First Baptist Church Cemetery in Bascom with Reverend Ronnie Wright officiating James Sikes Funeral Home directing. The family will receive friends one hour prior to services at Maddox Chapel. Flowers will be accepted or memorial gifts may be made to Greenwood First United Methodist Church or the First Baptist Church of Bascom Cemetery fund.
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