Gale Watson

ARARAT — Mrs. Gale Elizabeth Payne Watson, 72, of Ararat, NC, passed away Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at Forsyth Medical Center in Winston-Salem. She was born in Surry County on March 30, 1945, to the late Elmer Lee and Cindy Marie Butcher Payne. Mrs. Watson retired from Northern Hospital after 42 years of service as a devoted Registered Nurse of labor and delivery. She was also a member of Little Mountain Baptist Church, and the current president of the Alumni Association at Masonic Home for Children at Oxford. She graduated from John Nichols High School in 1963. During high school, she was a four-year starter playing varsity basketball and was awarded most valuable player, all-conference, and team captain on a team that is to this day one of the most historically winning women's high school varsity basketball teams in North Carolina history. She was a loving wife, mother and grandmother who will be dearly missed by all her family and many friends. She enjoyed cooking, gardening, reading, anything sports-related, helping others, and being with her grandchildren. She is survived by her husband, Wallace Watson of the home; a son Lance Watson of Ararat; a daughter and son-in-law, Lyndsay and Jason Greenlee of Hampton, GA; grandchildren, Solomon Greenlee of Hampton, GA, Maddie Watson of Ararat; sisters and brother-in-law, Brenda Perry of Florida, Linda and Ron Kocis of Maryland; brothers and sister-in-law, Don and Jo Ann Payne of Mount Airy, Roger Payne of Ararat, VA; many nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Mrs. Watson was preceded in death by a brother, Doug Payne. Funeral services will be held Sunday, July 16, 2017, at 2 p.m. at Little Mountain Baptist Church with the Rev. Billy Watson officiating. Burial will follow in Little Mountain Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday night from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Moody Funeral Home in Mount Airy. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made in memory of Gale Payne Watson to the Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, Inc., 600 Collage St., Oxford, NC 27565. Online condolences may be made at http://www.moodyfuneralservices.com.