Dr. Mary Alice Watson

Obituary of Mary Alice Watson

April 10, 1943 - July 22, 2024

Visitation will be held Thursday July 25th at Stanley Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00pm with Services on July 26th at 11:00am at Shady Grove Baptist Church in Brewton, Ga. In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a book donation in memory of Dr. Watson that will be donated to the IGA School. They may be dropped off at the residence of Ray Watson at 727 Flanders Lane, Dublin, GA 31021.

Mary Alice Watson passed away peacefully at home on July 22nd at the age of 81. Born in Dublin, Ga on April 10,1943, Mary Alice was known for her love and devotion to all those she met and her enthusiasm and passion for educations and helping her family and others. Mary Alice was a graduate of Dublin High School in 1961, after received her Bachelor of Science (1973) and Master of Education (1976) from Georgia College, Specialist in Education from University of Georgia (1982) and received her Doctor of Education from Nova University in 1995. Early in her occupational journey, her lasting impression can be remembered through the many lives that she impacted as Vice Principal at East Laurens High School. Later she became the first employee and worked alongside Ray Stewart, as a major contributor devoting tireless hours aiding in the opening of Heart of Georgia Technical Institute. Working alongside The SACSCOC Board she helped the school to gain their accreditation to be recognized as Heart of Georgia Technical College. Devoted to the mission, she became a member of SACSCOC and traveled nationwide helping many other institutions to obtain their accreditations. She continued to mentor a vast number of students, teachers, and employers alike in her role as a Post-secondary Coordinator and as Vice-President of Heart of Georgia Technical College, currently known as Oconee Fall Line Technical College, until her retirement.

Mary Alice was married to the love of her life, Ray James Watson in September of 1962. Together they were blessed with three beautiful children Jeff, John and Sally. She was a loyal member at Shady Grove Baptist Church, where she has sat on the Board of trustees for the cemetery and as Clerk and Treasurer, and was currently a devoted part of WMU, Sunday School, and longtime supporter of SGBC's Sister Church in the Philippines. She enjoyed volunteering in many community organizations through the years in various capacities including the Blarney Stones, Red Hat Society, Pilot Club, and prioritized her time to meet with The Retired Teachers Association.

She loved to travel and shared that passion with Ray and her family, traveling across the United States to the four corners and much of the in-between including Hawaii, cruising to Alaska, and abroad to The Panama Canal, journeyed through the Mediterranean, saw the sights in Paris and extensively traveled her way through Europe.

She spent much of her time with her family and loved ones enjoying beach vacations, encouraging them in their pursuits and passions and filled her days reading, playing and singing to her great grands. She was the epitome of a supportive, encouraging and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, aunt and friend, who will be gravely missed by so many.

Mary Alice is proceeded in death by her father, Johnnie Cecil Raffield, her mother Annie Hudson Temples Raffield Jackson, sisters Johnnie Faye Taylor (Cecil) and Patricia Pope (Jimmy), brother Gene Raffield (Valette) and her son John Adam Watson. She is survived in death by her husband of 61 years, Ray James Watson, her son Ray Jeffry Watson, daughter Sally Watson-Hall (Jeff), grandchildren Jaime Paige Brown (Christopher), Sydney Jewel Echevarria (Fabian), Jeffery Carson Watson Hall (Gracie) and Adam Lee Jordan Watson (Breanna), and her great grandchildren John Luke, Andilynn, Cooper, and Abigale Brown and Fabian James Echevarria along with numerous nieces and nephews and extended loved ones.

Stanley Funeral Home and Crematory/Dublin Chapel has charge of funeral arrangements.