Obituary of Elizabeth Watson

Spotlight on Elizabeth Womack Watson Elizabeth (Liz) Womack Watson, 97, of Freehold, New Jersey, passed away on April 7, 2020, in Orange, New Jersey. A graveside burial will be held at Old Tennent Cemetery on April 30, 2020, at 10:30 am with Reverend Ronald L. Sparks of Bethel AME Church of Freehold, New Jersey officiating. Elizabeth was born in Long Branch, New Jersey, to Fannie Brown and Jessie Womack on April 15, 1922. At an early age, Elizabeth moved to La Crosse, Virginia; where she graduated as the 8th-grade valedictorian and went on to attend Mecklenburg Training School in Mecklenburg County, Virginia. Liz soon moved to Harlem, New York, to reside with her sister Sarah and, thereafter, returned to New Jersey. Liz made Freehold her home for 70 plus years. One day when seeking employment at Washington Forge Cutlery, a young man, John H. Watson, walked by did a double take as Elizabeth’s beauty struck. After a short courtship, John and Elizabeth married on January 21, 1947. They raised their two children; Sylvia and John, Jr. in a loving home. Elizabeth would go on to work evenings at Marlboro State Hospital for 40 plus years until retirement, and John would work days at George’s Chevrolet until he retired. There was always a parent at home to ensure the safety and care of their children. John, Sr. departed this life on December 21, 1979. Elizabeth was a life long member of Second Baptist Church of Freehold, NJ. She took issue when the church’s name changed to Agape Christian Center. Having lived for almost one hundred years and experiencing Jim Crow, the Civil Rights Movement, and witnessing the election of the first Black president, she was not one to bite her tongue. Liz was very outspoken, and you never had to wonder what was on her mind. Elizabeth loved collecting dolls and knickknacks. She enjoyed reading a good book, as she was known to stay up all night to finish reading the book, and of course, this would mean no work that evening. Liz was fond of traveling (but not by plane) and cherished cruising every summer with friends or only “riding out” as Liz would say. She enjoyed playing word games, crossword puzzles and wrote everything down when she was not doodling. Elizabeth frowned on using technology and certainly did not appreciate computers or texting. She would much rather talk on the telephone and was known to say at the end of a conversation, “Now that we solved all the problems of the world, I’ll let you go.” Elizabeth was a strong lady who was committed to her family and loved children. When Liz entered heaven, she reunited with her loving husband of 32 years, John H. Watson, Sr., sister Sarah R. Taylor and, daughter Sylvia Pitts. Elizabeth leaves to mourn her beloved son, John H. Watson, Jr., Esq., Retired Judge (Gloria, Ed. D.), granddaughter Tiffany Watson Patrick (Brian) of New Jersey, grandson, John H. Watson, III, MBA (Anjelica, MBA) of Brooklyn, New York, great-grandchildren Korri, twins; Kamryn & Brian and special cousins Joseph Keyes, Torri Keyes-Burwell (Geoffrey), Patricia Robinson, Kendall Keyes of New Jersey and Joseph Keyes, Jr. of Maryland.