TIFTON — Thomas Edison Watson, 81, of Tifton, died Saturday, Sept. 22, 2007, at Shands Hospital in Gainesville, Fla.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday at Victory Baptist Church. The Rev. Jimmy Odum and the Rev. Dan Eidson officiated. Burial followed at Oakridge Cemetery. Pallbearers were Dan Branch, Earl Branch, Lindsey Evans, Richard Wood, Frank Willis and Tommy Lamb.

Born Oct., 7, 1925, in Tift County, Mr. Watson was the son of James Jackson Watson and Bertie Mae Owens Watson, both deceased.

He was the owner of the Varsity Drive-In and was retired from Curtis Packing Co. He served as a deacon at Victory Baptist Church and was a Mason.

Survivors include his wife, Irene Kendrick Watson of Tifton; a son, Thomas Jackson Watson and his wife Debbie of Hendersonville, Tenn.; two daughters, Pat Jernigan of Tifton and Sandy Watson Samples and her husband Paul of Alpharetta; three sisters, Opal Watson Smith of Tifton, Joyce Watson Barnes of Gray and Thetis Haire of Tifton; eight grandchildren, Jack Watson Jr., Carrie Kulesa, Chelsea Watson, Jana Jernigan, John Jernigan, Ivey Samples, Tanner Samples and Gayton Samples, and one great-grandchild, Jackie Watson III.

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Bowen-Donaldson Home for Funerals was in charge of arrangements.