William Henry Watson II

Bishop William Henry Watson II LUBBOCK-Bishop William Henry Watson II, 68, of Lubbock passed away Tuesday, Feb. 29, 2012. Bishop William Henry Watson II, the son of Deacon William L. Watson Sr. and Juanita Maxine (Morris), was born on May 17, 1943, in Arkansas City, Kan. His mother passed when he was three years old and he was reared by his large extended family in his grandmother's, Mother Lovie Watson, home. He graduated from Arkansas City High School in 1961. He learned to play the saxophone at an early age and became an avid student of music. In 1963, he graduated from Cowley County Community College with an Associate of Arts Degree. He left Arkansas City and headed for the metropolis of Wichita, Kan., where he enrolled at Wichita State University. In 1967, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in music education. In 2005, he received his Master of Theology from Oakland University. Bishop Watson accepted his call to ministry in the 1960s at his home church under the tutelage of his uncles and his father. He was an extraordinary and demonstrative preacher of the gospel. His first message was Weeping May Endure for A Night. His second message was Take Another Dip. Another memorable sermon he preached at home was Lord, I killed my lion and I killed my bear, help me to kill my Giant. Bishop Watson was an exceptional musician. His principle instrument was the tenor saxophone. His father was a perfectionist and expected his son to perform at a high level. Bishop Watson not only mastered his instrument, he taught his cousins, Melvin Watson and Bryne Donaldson, to play saxophone as well. They formed a group called the Soul Searches, which played at churches for services and musicals all over the Midwest. Many young men, including the now famed Vernard Johnson, would come to Ark City to learn from Bishop Watson. When he matured, Bishop Watson served his local church, Arkansas City Church of God in Christ, as the choir director of the Youth Choir. With his sisters, Marcia and Barbara, on the keyboards, the Ark City Youth Choir had a sound that was renowned throughout the church. While most gospel choirs were singing three-part harmony, Bishop Watson's choirs often had five or six parts. He would split the sopranos (1st and 2nd) and altos (1st and 2nd), adding the tenors and the bases. He was stacking music long before they were doing it on the coasts. He was demonstrative but precise choir director. Every move of his body had significance, and woe unto the person who missed a note or a beat. Bishop Watson was always an avid competitor, a sports enthusiasts and fast car aficionado. When he was young, he had a sports car that he raced. Because the saints were not allowed to play sports on Sundays, he would have a driver enter his car, while he went to church. The driver was then responsible for bringing Bishop his winnings or leaving his money in a cup on the porch. If you played him checkers, dominos or any game at home, you had to play until he beat you. While he was in college, he met and married the love of his life, Arneda Walton, from Texas. He was a devoted and protective husband to his bride. Sister Watson had been well-trained in the ways of the Lord and worked tirelessly and quietly by her husband's side from then until now. To this union, two children were born, William Henry Watson III and LeGena M. (Watson) Collins. After Bishop Watson graduated from college, he began his career in education. He started out as the junior high school band and vocal music instructor in Arkansas City from 1968-1970. He was not a stranger to work, so at the same time, he worked as a vocal instructor at Cowley County Community College. In 1970, Bishop Watson left Arkansas City to take a position in a smaller Kansas town, Dexter, Kan., where he was the junior and senior high bands and vocal music instructor. Who can forget when Bishop Watson scored the music to James Brown's anthem, I'm Black and I am Proud, and taught it to an all-white marching band. So, Bishop Watson left south-central Kansas and moved to Kansas City, Kan., where he taught high school band at Kansas City's Wyandotte High School. While in Kansas City, he was ordained as an Elder in the Church of God in Christ by the late Bishop John Owen, Jurisdictional Prelate, Kansas East. After he was ordained, he heard a clarion call of the Lord and obeyed the direction of the late Bishop J.E. Alexander to come to Texas. Like Abraham, he left the land of his fathers and headed to Texas with his wife, two small children, a small car and his faith. When he got to Texas, he could not find a job in his profession immediately. So, he found work as an assistant planner for the City of Lubbock, Texas. He then worked as a coordinator On-Job Training Program for the U.S. Department of Labor from 1974 through 1978. The Lord blessed, and he then returned to his love of music as the band director at Estacado High School and Alderson Jr. High School from 1978-1980. After a short period of time, Bishop Watson was appointed Pastor of Greater Prayer House Church of God in Christ, Lamesa. He served that congregation until 1984. In 1977, Bishop Watson was appointed district superintendent of the Lubbock District in Texas Northwest Jurisdiction. Later, he was appointed as executive secretary and then the 1st Administrative Assistant to Bishop J.E. Alexander. Bishop Watson also served the national church in this season of his life. At the direction of Bishop J.O. Patterson Sr., Bishop Watson organized and directed the first orchestra of the Church of God in Christ. He gathered young people from across the nation to play during national meetings. He scored popular gospel music for various instruments, before you could purchase this music in the stores. In 1983, Bishop J.O. Patterson Sr. consecrated Bishop William H. Watson II as the Jurisdictional Prelate, Texas Northwest Jurisdiction. At this time, he was one of the youngest persons to be consecrated as a bishop. He was also appointed as the Pastor of Ford Memorial Church of God in Christ. In 1993, the church relocated and was renamed Agape Temple Church of God in Christ. He served that local congregation until 2010, when he relinquished the pastorate of the congregation, and appointed his son-in-law, Pastor Daryl Collins, to continue his work there. Bishop Watson also pastored Holy Temple Church of God in Christ in Levelland. Bishop Watson continued to pursue his education. Bishop Watson also served his community. He was a member of the Texas State Board of Examiners of Marriage and Family Therapist, and he served on the Chancellor of Texas Tech University's Minority Community Advisory Council and the Texas State Governors' Juvenile Justice Advisory Board. Not only did Bishop Watson serve the local congregation, the community, and his jurisdiction, he served the national church in variety of capacities. In 1984, Bishop L.T. Walker appointed Bishop Watson as the corresponding secretary to the Board of Bishops. He faithfully served in this capacity until 2004. In 2004, Bishop Watson was elected as the 1st Vice Chairman of the Board of Bishops, Church of God in Christ, Inc. He served in this capacity until his passing. Bishop William H. Watson II was preceded in death by his mother, Juanita Maxine (Morris) Watson; his father, Deacon William L. Watson; stepmother, District Missionary Hortence (McBee) Watson; brother, Frederick Nicholson; and sister, Willa Mae (Watson) Slaughter. He leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Lady Arneda (Walton) Watson; son, Administrative Assistant William H. Watson III (Stacy); daughter, Missionary Le'Gena M. (Watson) Collins (Daryl); five grandchildren, Alisha Michelle Collins, Elizabeth Ashley Collins, Taylor Nicole Watson, Stephen Christopher Collins and William Cullen Watson IV; sisters, Marcia (Watson) Redmond and Barbara (Watson) Jackson; nieces; nephews; great-nieces and nephews; uncles, Deacon Theodore Morris ( Linda), Harold Morris (Louise), Deacon Charles Watson (Linda), Billy Morris, Charles Morris (Roxanne), and Arceolla Fields (Harvey); numerous cousins; the Texas Northwest Jurisdiction; and other family and friends. The Local and Jurisdictional Homegoing Celebration will be held today at 7:30 p.m. at LakeRidge United Methodist Church, 4701 82nd Street, Lubbock, TX 79424. The National Homegoing Celebration will be held Friday, March 9, 2012, at 11 a.m. at LakeRidge United Methodist Church, 4701 82nd Street, Lubbock, TX 79424. Interment will follow in City of Lubbock Cemetery under the Direction of Griffin Mortuary.