Grace ‘Irene’ Benfield Watson

Grace ‘Irene’ Benfield Watson, 84, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, December 16, 2013 at the Willow Ridge Rehabilitation Facility in Rutherfordton, N.C. following several years of declining health. Irene was born on December 25, 1928. She was the daughter of the late Jacob ‘Jake’ Lee Benfield and Martha ‘Mattie’ Elizabeth Whisenant Powell Benfield. Irene retired following 30 years of service to the J. Iverson Riddle Facility, formerly Western Carolina Center. Irene or ‘Mama’ Watson, as she was known by the residents, was in the first training class for Cottage Parents and she began working in November 1963 when the facility opened and helped to admit the first patient to the center. She was a member of Snow Hill United Methodist Church.She is survived by three daughters; Linda Watson Anderson, Wilma Watson Head, and husband, Kenneth, all of Morganton and Vickie Watson, of Valdese. Her grandchildren, Terri Lynne Anderson Deyton Bourne, Christy Leanne Anderson, Kelley Kathryn Butler, John Russell ‘JR’ Clarke, Kevin Dwayne Head and wife, Brandy all of Morganton, Jodi Carole Anderson of Cramerton, NC, Teresa Head Treadway and husband, Tim of Valdese, NC. Her great-grandchildren, Brandon Ray Deyton, Bradley Anderson Deyton and wife, Sherry and Sarah Kathryn Deyton, of Morganton, Katelyn Hope White and Mackenzie René White of Cramerton, NC, Tayler Maree Treadway and Tyanna "Chase" Treadway of Valdese, NC, Kaleb Bryan Head of Morganton, and her great-great grandchildren, Avery Anderson Deyton, Vincent and Victor Auton and a new great-great granddaughter due any day now. Also surviving is her sister, Ruby Elizabeth Benfield of the Willow Ridge Rehabilitation Facility, Rutherfordton, NC and a number of nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her devoted husband of 61 years, John ‘Ralph’ Watson and one daughter, Thelma ‘Jean’ Watson, and her son-in-law, Thomas ‘Tommie’ Carl Anderson, Jr. and seven sisters, three brothers and a number of nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, December 19, 2013 at Sossoman Funeral Home. The funeral will be at the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home on Friday, December 20, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. The Rev. Barbara Boyd Mayo will officiate at the service. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park, Drexel. NC. Memorial contributions may be made to Caldwell County Chapter of the American Heart Association, 1052/2 Cedar Hills Court, Lenoir, NC 28645, and Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC 28043 or an organization of your choice. Irene’s family wishes to extend our thanks and grateful appreciation to the staff of the Willow Ridge Rehabilitation Facility, Rutherford, NC for their gentle loving care and devotion to our mother and grandmother.