Jerry Lee Watts

Jerry Lee Watts, 78, of Kathleen, Georgia, passed away peacefully following an extended illness Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, with his wife of 50+ years by his side.

Born in 1943 in Roanoke, Virginia, he was the oldest of two children born to Boyd and Helen Watts.

Following his graduation from the University of Virginia, Jerry served in the U.S. Air Force, with stops across the country and globe before eventually settling in Warner Robins in the early 1970’s. For the next two decades, he continued serving the U.S. in a civilian capacity, eventually retiring from his post at Robins Air Force Base as the Deputy Chief of Avionics in 2000. During that 20-year span, he was an active member of First Presbyterian Church of Warner Robins and suffered through many middle and high school sporting events while raising his daughters to enjoy fishing, HAM Radio, home projects and traveling (only by unique methods like campers and trains) along with him.

He had a knack for good (not necessarily healthy) food, and never would admit whether his Nu-Ways trumped those from the Varsity, but that didn’t prevent him from visiting both on a regular basis…or at least as “regular” as his family would allow. He also valued the friendships he made with owners, managers and others from locally-owned establishments and has passed on knowing that, if the good Lord accepts people into his Kingdom based on their food skills alone, he’ll see his long-time friends from Top Wok/Benson’s and M&T down the road.

Upon his first retirement from Robins AFB, he went on to make many friends across the country as Stated Clerk of Flint River Presbytery before the long hours on the road between Kathleen and Albany forced him to retire again 15 years later. It’s believed he only lasted that long to avoid the inevitable “honey-do” list that would be awaiting him once he hung up the Presbytery cleats. His retirement doesn’t mean he gave up on serving, however, as he could still be found at Fort Valley Presbyterian on a regular basis serving as church treasurer and session member.

The final decade of his life was perhaps his favorite, as evidenced by his multiple visits to Alaska to see his youngest forge her own path in the military and his frequent video “conversations” with his young, spirited grandchildren in Atlanta. He will be sorely missed but never forgotten, as his words of wisdom, numerous projects around the house and a multitude of fishing tackle are everyday reminders for his wife Edna, daughters, Cheryl (Matthew) and Tracie, grandchildren Mason and Connor, sister Patty, nieces and a nephew.

A visitation will occur at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, August 12, 2021 at Fort Valley Presbyterian Church, followed by a service celebrating his life at 11:30 a.m. For friends unable to attend at this time, the service will be streamed live via the McCullough Funeral Home Facebook page at www.facebook.com/mcculloughfuneralhome/live/.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Flint River Presbytery’s Campus Ministry Capital Campaign on his behalf. Surviving two girls in a downtown Atlanta university at the same time put a spotlight on this ministry for him, and any gifts to it will last much longer than foliage.

Rest peacefully, dad…we may have to move on through life on this earth without you, but we know you’re walking easier, breathing deeper and making those to-do lists for us to complete as a family when we are together again.

Learn more about the measures McCullough Funeral Home is taking to ensure the health and safety of our guests at www.mcculloughfh.com. There you can also sign an Online Registry for the family. McCullough Funeral Home and Crematory has the privilege of being entrusted with these arrangements.