Mr. Billy Louis Watts, son of the late Ernest and Viola Shives Watts, was born in Iredell County, N.C., on November 12, 1942. He departed this life on Thursday, September 24, 2020, at Iredell Memorial Hospital following an extended illness.

He was preceded in death by his brother, Ernest Alfred Watts Jr.; his parents; several other family members; and recently his sister, Emma Lois Watts.

Billy was a 1960 graduate of Morningside High School in Statesville, N.C. He graduated from North Carolina Central University in 1964 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and a minor in Music. He also attended the National Education Institute, Columbia University in 1967, graduated from Catawba Valley Technical Institute in 1972 with an Associate in Applied Science – Data Processing Technology; graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 1979 with a Master of Education Degree; graduated from Appalachian State University in 1989 with a Specialist in Education Degree; graduated from Catawba Valley Community College in 1997 with an Associate Degree in Applied Science – Business Computer Programming with Honors, Phi Theta Kappa.

He worked in the North Carolina School System for 31 years as a teacher, assistant principal and supervisor.

He was a life member of Holsey Memorial CME Church in Statesville, where he served as the Senior Choir President, church musicians, for over 20 years as church treasurer and recording steward. He served as secretary for two years of the Winston-Salem and Greenville District Lay Ministry. At the time of his death, he was serving his fourth term as Lay Leader of the Carolina Region and led in re-establishing the annual Lay Luncheon in 2006.

Cherishing his memory is his niece, Tammy Sawyer of Statesville; his nephews, William Louis “Billy” Watts of Aurora, Colo., and Russell (Valerie) Watts of Ayers, Mass.; two great nieces, Shanta Sawyer and Naomi Watts; two great nephews, William Louis Watts II and David Franklin Watts; one aunt, Beulah Mack of Statesville; a sister-in-law, Mary Agnes of Statesville; and a host of cousins, family, friends and her church family at Holsey Memorial CME Church.

Funeral service is scheduled for Thursday, October 1, 2020, at 11 a.m. at Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home, 603 South Center Street, Statesville, N.C.

Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the family.