Thea Mildred Parks Watts, 103, died Sunday, Nov. 28, 2016, at her residence in Etta. The funeral service will be Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016, at 12 noon at Philadelphia Baptist Church in Etta, with the Rev. Bobby Irvin officiating. Burial will follow in Philadelphia Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. prior to the service at the church.

Born to the late Eddie Patton and James Parks, Mrs. Watts was retired from Kellwood Manufacturing Company where she worked as a seamstress. Following her graduation from high school, she attended a teaching school in the College Hill community and then taught elementary children at Cypress Springs School in Lafayette County and at the Philadelphia School. She was a lifelong member of Philadelphia Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, Training Union and Vacation Bible School. She was also a member of the former Philadelphia Homemakers club. Mrs. Watts found great joy in planting and tending her vegetable and flower gardens and preserving the fruits of her labor through canning and freezing.

Along with her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Buck Watts and a son, James Lester Watts.

Survivors include her daughter, Linda W. Swearingen and her husband Van of Etta; a sister, Eddie Lou Ray of New Albany; grandchildren, Robby Swearingen, Bailey Swearingen, Andrea McGowan, Tanya Powell and Nicole Brouillette and seven great-grandchildren.

Memorial contributions in Mrs. Watts’ memory may be made to Philadelphia Baptist Church, 456 CR 255, Etta, MS 38627.

For additional information or to sign an online guestbook, visit www.wallerfuneralhome.com or call 662-234-7971.