South Yorkshire Times, November 18th 1944

Obituary

Mrs. M. A. Watts

Oxford Road Church Loss

The Oxford Road Wesleyan Reform Church, Mexborough, lost one of their most loyal members by the death, which occurred on Tuesday, of Mrs. Mary Annie Watts, wife of Mr. J. W. Watts, organist and choir master of the church, of 14, Cross Church Street, Mexborough. She was 66.

Mrs. Watts, before her marriage of 44 years ago, was the only daughter of the late Mr. John Mawson, who established a butcher’s shop at 14, Market Street, Mexborough, where his son, Mr. J. Mawson, at present carries on the business. In 1845, Mr. Mawson senior was a founder member of the Oxford Road Church, and Mrs. Watts had worshipped at the church all her life. When Mr. Watts was appointed organist over 50 years ago, she became assistant organist. She was a member of the choir and a Sunday School teacher, and helped her husband considerably with choral work.

For a number of years she was president of the Bright Hour and Secretary for the annual bazaar. Mrs. Watts had been Poor Steward and President of the Women’s Section of the Church, in which position her cheerful disposition endeared her to all. Her versatility and her splendid organising ability she put to good account by organising sewing meetings for the section. In her younger days she studied art at Sheffield and was a competent painter. Mr. Watts, until he retired two years ago, was for 17 years the company’s checkweighman at Denaby Main Colliery. There is one son, Mr. F. Watts, who is a chemist in business in Swinton and Mexborough.

The funeral service will be held to-day (Friday) at Mexborough Parish Church at 11 a.m., conducted by the Vicar, the Rev. E. H. P. Rawlins and the Rev. W. H. Jones (General Sexretary of the Wesleyan Reform Union), following which cremation will take place at Sheffield.

Mr. W. A. Lewis (President of the Oxford Road Church), in a tribute to Mrs. Watts said: “She was the soul of kindness.”