Janice Watts Obituary

Janice Marie Watts
Absent From The Body ~ Present With The Lord
It is profoundly poetic that Janice entered into this earthly life at her parents' home on Third Street in Clairton, May 14, 1938, and entered into eternal life at her own home on Reed Street in Clairton, May 14, 2025. Inbred with a strong-will, she held on until the end, with a steadfast, immovable determination to claim her 87th year of existence on this side of Heaven. Yes, she did that!
Janice was the loving wife of the late James "Stumpy" Watts (deceased July 2015) for 57 years. Together, they pledged their vows of holy matrimony on May 17, 1958, at her parents' home on Mitchell Avenue and hosted a glorious celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary, May 2008, in West Mifflin, PA. Their union was blessed with one son, Daryl Jerome Watts.
Janice– like her Mother, the late Grace M. Willis Gill–was a great cook and excellent baker. And, like her father–the late Lee V. Gill–she took pride in her well-maintained, immaculate home, where the door to her and Stumpy's house was always open to welcome family and friends to a chair at the table or a seat on the couch.
A lifelong resident of Clairton, growing up in Blair Heights and Hunkey Town, Janice was educated in the City's School System. She received her high school diploma with the June 1956 graduating class. In her early childhood, under the pastorate of the late Rev. Samuel J. Wright, and upon the declaration of her faith in God, Janice's Christian journey began at the First AME Church of Clairton. And, it ultimately ended there, as a faithful, dedicated, and loving member, under the present leadership of Rev. Darryl Lowe.
Throughout her lifetime, Janice served diligently in Church Ministries as a Member of the Stewardess Board, Secretary of the Rosa Pettis Missionary Society, Culinary Coordinator, and Overseer of the dining hall. For countless years, she served as a Delegate to the Annual AME Church Conferences side-by-side with her lifelong girlfriends, Cornelia Pompey and Lowell Owens. They were the notorious Church Ladies long before SNL made the term popular.
Janice was admired as a sharp dresser who loved to shop, and she kept her closet chic, up-to-date, and in tune with the latest fashion trends. She loved hats and would occasionally enhance her outfit with a fancy chapeau.
Raised in a home filled with love and music, the seventh of eight children, Janice was gifted with a marvelous first-soprano operatic voice that harmonized with her sisters Nellie's alto, Deanie's 2nd soprano, and Edith's tenor and piano artistry, in a Gospel Group named THE LEE GRACE SINGERS after her parents. (When they traveled with a former late Pastor, he would call them after his own name, The B. F. Lee Singers). Yes, he did that! In First Church's music ministry, Janice was a lead singer on the Youth, Young Adult, and Senior Choirs and "The Lord's Prayer" Psalmist on Communion Sundays. Accompanied by her late sister, Edith Worthy, Janice also served as Guest Soloist at all of Clairton's Churches, and for many other programs, events, and organizations up and down "The River".
Because of a decline in her health, Janice could no longer uphold her commitments to First Church, but her faithfulness will be remembered by those with whom she served and those who were the beneficiaries thereof.
At the Heavenly Reunion, Janice will be reunited with her parents, Grace and Lee Gill; five sisters, Olive Batts, Grace Bercelle Turner, Dorothy Myrtle, Nellie Dreher, Edith Worthy; one brother, George Willis, and husband James Watts.
Forever cherishing her memory on earth are her: Son, Daryl Jerome Watts, Sr and Daughter-in-law, Cordelia "Kitty" Watts, Clairton PA; Sister, Geraldine "Deanie" Jackson, Churchill PA; Sister-in-law, Evelyn Major, Harrisburg PA; Brother-in-law Delanor Watts and wife Mildred, Hershey PA; Grandson, Daryl DJ Watts Jr and wife Jihyyida, Myerstown PA; Granddaughter Jill Watts, Glassport PA;. 5 Great grandsons, Garland Watts Jr, Jacoby, Jamire and Jamari Watts, and Elijah Webb. Stepchildren, Thomasine Watts and son, Garland, New Jersey, Wanda Watts and daughter Joney, New York; and Godson, Dain M. Cannady, Jr, Pittsburgh, PA. Too many to name them all an abundance of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, Friends, and Neighbors.
WELL DONE THOU GOOD AND FAITHFUL SERVANT
"JANICE MARIE WATTS"
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