A Celebration of Life Honoring Albert Hawes Watts, December 18, 1913 - November 20, 2001, Monday, November 26, 2001, 11:00 A.M., First Congregationalist Church, UCC, Atlanta, Georgia 30303, Dr. Dwight D. Andrews, Senior Minister, Officiating

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Albert Hawes Watts was born on December 18, 1913 in Atlanta, Georgia. He was the second child born to Ida Hawes and Lewis Gould Watts. Albert's sister, the late Jane Watts Lovelace, had been the librarian at Arkansas AM&N College in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Albert had two younger brothers, the late Dr. Lewis Gould Watts Jr., who had been a professor of social work at the University of California at Sacramento, and Dr. Charles DeWitt Watts, a retired surgeon in Durham, North Carolina.
Albert's early education was at Oglethorpe Elementary School on the campus of the old Atlanta University. He attended Knowles High School until it closed in 1929, and he graduated from Clark University Academy in 1932. While still in the 11th and 12th grades, Albert was selected to dress with the Clark College Varsity Football Team. He later attended Clark College where he became a varsity tackle and captain of the championship team. Albert played offense and defense on the team. Nicknamed "Big-un," his playing weight was 225 lbs.
Albert received a B.A. degree from Clark College in 1936, with a major in business administration. Albert enrolled in the Atlanta University School of Business and took one year of graduate studies. He loved and continually supported the school. On May 19, 2001, he was honored with the dedication of the Albert H. Watts Alumni House on the Clark Atlanta University campus.
While a student at Clark, Albert was made into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in 1936. He was a longtime treasurer and active member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., Eta Lambda Chapter in Atlanta, and looked forward to bringing in the New Year at the "Alpha Ball" each year.
Albert began working at South-View Cemetery fulltime, soon after finishing his formal education. In 1948, Albert became its Secretary-Treasurer. He succeeded his father, Louis G. Watts, as Secretary-Treasurer and his grandfather, Albert Watts, who was one of the organizers of the cemetery. In 1977 he became President-Treasurer of South-View. He would hold this leadership position at the cemetery until his death. Albert was active in the International Funeral and Cemetery Association and was honored at its convention last spring. He often joked that people would call the cemetery

and say, "Watts, you're still here?'' and he'd respond, "Yeah, I'm going to be at South-View Cemetery for a long time- while I'm alive and after I am dead too."
Albert was christened at First Congregational Church on Easter Sunday, 1914, by the Reverend Henry Hugh Proctor and became a church member in 1927. He served as Chairman of the Trustee Board for seven years and continued his family legacy of dedication to First Congregational Church. Albert raised two sons, the late Albert George Watts and Dr. Charles Samuel Watts, and provided a home base for many relatives that moved to Atlanta or attended area colleges. On Sundays, Albert would take relatives to First Congregational Church (to sit on the fourth row), store trunks over holidays and pick them up from the airport. In his eighty-six years he shared his love and his laughter, his sharp business sense and expansive wisdom, and the lessons of history that he had lived and learned. We will miss him.
Albert is survived by one son, Dr. Charles Samuel Watts Sr. (Norma); six grandchildren, Felicia N. Wright (Andre), Katrina G. Watts, Stefanie WattsParrish (Marvin), Rodney B. Watts, Charles Samuel Watts Jr., Christina S. Watts; seven great grandchildren, Christopher G. Watts, Kenneth A. Lockett, Raven K. Charleston, Marvin D. Parrish Jr., Andrea V. Wright, Tiersa Alberta Parrish, and Cason M. Parrish; one brother, Dr. Charles D. Watts (Constance); his former wife, Mrs. Hazel Watts Lucas; and a host of other friends and relatives.

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Prelude

"Aria"

Dr. Joyce Johnson, Organist

Processional

"Largo"

Handel

Opening Prayer

Dr. Dwight D. Andrews

Hymn

"0 Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go"

George Matheson

Scriptures:

Dr. Andrew J. Young

The Old Testament The New Testament

Psalm 121 Revelation 21: 1-7

Solo

"Give Me Jesus"

Mrs. Loretta F. Harrison

Tributes:

Dr. Thomas W. Cole Jr., President, Clark Atlanta University Mr. Ronald Yates, Trustee, First Congregational Church Mr. Fletcher Coombs, President Emeritus, Mutual Federal Savings & Loan Mrs. Juanita S. Stone, Corporate Secretary, Board of Directors of
Stone-View South Cemetery

Eulogy

Dr. Norman N. Rates

Medley of Hymns:

Clark College Alma Mater Alpha Phi Alpha Hymn "Amazing Grace "

Recessional

"For All the Saints "

Vaughan Williams

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South-View Cemetery 1990 Jonesboro Road, Southeast
Atlanta, Georgia

South-View Cemetery holds a prominent spot in the history of Atlanta. The cemetery, located on Jonesboro Road in southeast Atlanta, holds the distinction of being the nation's oldest African-American non-eleemosynary corporation still in operation. South-View serves as the resting place of many of Atlanta's most prominent African-American citizens.
Unable to enter the front gate of white-owned cemeteries for burial, nine "Negro" citizens, including the grandfather of Albert Hawes Watts, gathered at Friendship Baptist Church and organized the South-View Cemetery Association. The petition for charter, bearing the names of Jacob McKinley, George W. Graham, Robert Graham, Charles H. Morgan, John Render and Albert Watts, was submitted in February 1886. The charter was secured from the State of Georgia on April21, 1886.
Under the leadership of Albert Hawes Watts, the cemetery achieved national prominence as one of the most modem and best burial grounds in the nation, without color distinction. More than 90,000 persons have been buried on its hallowed grounds. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dr. Benjamin Mays were both laid to rest at South-View Cemetery before being moved to their final resting places at the Martin Luther King Jr. Center and Morehouse College, respectively.
A stroll through the cemetery is truly a lesson in history. Many of the persons after whom Atlanta Public Schools have been named were laid to rest at South-View, including Samuel H. Archer, Edward R. Carter, Lena Jean Campbell, Luther Judson Price, Jesse Mae Jones, and more recently, Jean Childs-Young. Other interred include former officers of the SouthView Cemetery Association, including C.R. Yates, former president of Citizens Trust Bank and Yates and Milton Drug Stores; W.J. Shaw, owner and operator of the Odd Fellows Building; and L.D. Milton, former president of Citizens Trust Bank and Trustee at Howard University. The list goes on and on, including Graham Jackson, the musician who was a personal favorite of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
South-View Cemetery covers 200 acres and averages 600 burials a year. Proud of its rich history, South-View is poised to continue to provide the Atlanta community a peaceful, quality, resting placing.
Thanks to William A. Fowlkes for information secured from an Atlanta Daily World article dated April 23, 1981.

0 Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

ST. MARGARET. 8,8,8,8,6

GEORGE MATHESON, 1882

ALBERT L. PEACE, 1885

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By permission of Novello and Co., Ltd.

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Kenneth A. Lockett Charles S. Watts Sr. Charles S. Watts Jr. Christopher G. Watts
Rodney B. Watts SuleK. Welch
~:;~ Trustee Board of First Congregational Church Eta Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Alumni Association of Clark Atlanta University
Men of Clark Board of Directors, South-View Cemetery Association Board of Directors, Chesnutt Hill Cemetery Association
North District Funeral Directors of G.F.S.P.A.
~
The family of the late Albert Hawes Watts would like to express sincere appreciation to each and everyone whose thoughtfulness and concern were shown during the illness and death of our beloved deceased. May God continue to bless you.

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~.ellers ~ro4.ers,. aJnr.

FUNERAL DIRECTORS & MORTICIANS

889 M. L. King , Dr. Drive, N.W. Atlanta, Georgia 30314

923 McDaniel Street, S.W Atlanta , Georgia 30310

404-522-6924

404-522-2591