Henton Watson, 94, a resident of Winter Haven, Florida went to be with the Lord on Thursday, 20 August 2020.     His final resting place, Mineral Springs Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery, Taylorsville, Mississippi.  Pastor Nathan Brown officiating and military honors provided by Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard.

Services will be held at 3PM on Saturday the 19th of September 2020 at Mineral Springs Baptist Church, 1682 Smith County Road 19, Taylorsville, Mississippi with Pastor Nathan Brown officiating.  Military honors provided by Keesler Air Force Base Honor Guard.  Colonial Chapel of Bay Springs is in charge of arrangements.  (601) 764-2181.

Born June 9, 1926 in Laurel, Mississippi to James Monroe (Jim) Watson and Matilda Williamson Watson.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Bettie Hosey Watson, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, sister-laws, brother-in-laws, nieces and nephews.

MILITARY VETERAN

Henton along with many of his family, made the decision to serve their county with honor, courage, integrity, and service before self.  He served in the Army Infantry Reserve Corps, the Regular Army and the United States Air Force.  He beamed with pride to salute his grandsons as they carried on the military tradition in the United States Air Force.

Henton is a veteran of World War II where he earned several medals with the United States Army.  Recipient of  the Bronze Star, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, Combat Infantryman Badge, Sharpshooter Badge with Carbine Bar, Good Conduct Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII.   He ultimately finished his military career with the United States Air Force as a Fire Fighter/Crash Rescue and was honorably discharged in 1950.

After Henton returned from the war and completed his military service, he eventually traveled to south Florida and decided to make it home, joining other family and friends that had relocated to the Sunshine State.  There he met and married his wife of 59 years, Bettie Hosey Watson, formally of Taylorsville, Mississippi on 10 June 1961.

Henton served as a Florida City Police Officer and was a member of the William F. Brantley Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).  He eventually left the police department and went on to be a Heavy Equipment Operator for International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) , Local 487, retiring as a  Supervisory Foreman.

The FOP recruited Henton to be "Santa" during the holidays.  Officers from the Homestead Police Department would   escort Henton to the homes of the local children that wrote and mailed letters to Santa.  A job he loved and cherished for over 20+ years.  It made his heart swell to see the excitement in the children's eyes when Santa knocked on their door and knew just what they wanted for Christmas.

During his years with IUOE Local 487, he traveled all over south Florida and helped construct many of south Florida's iconic landmarks.

Henton is preceded in death by:

His parents , James Monroe Watson (1875-1951) and Matilda Williamson Watson (1888-1928).

All of His siblings , Denson Watson (1917-1990), Catherine    Watson Hair (1919-2005), Mary Lou Watson Craven (1920-2000), James Howard Watson (1924-2001), and Marjorie Watson Tew Cooley (1928-2011).