Margaret Gay Watson

1927 - 2025

Margaret Gay Watson

April 24, 1927 - February 27, 2025

Red Springs, North Carolina - Margaret Gay Watson of Red Springs departed this life on Thursday, February 27, 2025. Miss Watson was born in Red Springs on April 24, 1927. She attended the Red Springs City Schools and graduated as the salutatorian of her class. She went on to study at Flora Macdonald College in Red Springs, graduating in 1948 with a double major in Bible and social studies and a minor in English.

Miss Watson began her teaching career that autumn in Four Oaks, NC, marking the beginning of a 55-year tenure in education. After five years in Four Oaks, she moved to the Fayetteville City Schools, teaching at Alexander Graham Junior High, Horace Sisk Junior High, and finally, at Hillcrest Middle School. After retiring in 1989, she went on to teach another thirteen years at Flora Macdonald Academy in Red Springs. Upon her retirement from FMA, she was honored with a luncheon where she was presented with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. During her long career she taught English and US History to hundreds of junior high school students. For several decades, she took her history classes on an annual pilgrimage to Appomattox Courthouse, Monticello, and other historic sites in Virginia. Gay Watson had a genuine love of learning, and she loved imparting knowledge to her students. She loved them and they loved her in return.

A lifelong member of the Red Springs Presbyterian Church, Miss Watson taught Sunday School, was a youth leader, and sang alto in the choir for decades. She served as a deacon, was a long-time member of the scholarship committee, and was active in many other aspects of the life of the church. She was the recipient a life membership from the Women of the Church.

On her ninetieth birthday, Miss Watson was honored with a reception on the Flora Macdonald Campus hosted by her nieces and nephews and attended by dozens of friends and former students. She followed the lives of many of her students with a keen interest and was so proud of their successes. Perhaps the greatest excitement of her life came when one of her former students, Don Baer, became a presidential speechwriter and arranged for her to visit the Oval Office at the White House. "Aunt Gay", as she was known to many, was a devoted follower of Duke basketball and a lifelong Boston Red Sox fan.

Gay Watson was the daughter of the late Neil Pat Watson and Margaret Gay Easterling Watson. She was also preceded in death by brothers Neil Pat Watson, Jr. of Raleigh, Earle A. Watson, Donald K. Watson, and David E. Watson, all of Red Springs. Her late sisters were Dorothy McPhaul of Antioch, Isabel Canady of Hope Mills, and Bessie Rose Carmical of Lumberton. Miss Watson is survived by nine nieces and nephews, and a host of grandnieces and nephews.

Miss Watson's family will receive friends on Sunday afternoon from 4 - 6 p.m. at Boles Red Springs Funeral Home. A funeral service will be held on Monday, March 3 at 11:00 a.m. at the Red Springs Presbyterian Church. Miss Watson had a lifelong love for the Flora Macdonald Campus in Red Springs. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Flora Macdonald Educational Foundation at 200 North College Street Red Springs, NC 28377. She would love knowing that gifts in her memory will help nurture and benefit the place that set her on her own life's work in education.