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Lynn Harold Watson, 79, of Georgiana passed away Tuesday, Sept. 3, at home after a courageous battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Mr. Watson’s family will receive visitors Thursday evening from 5:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. at Johnson Funeral Home in Georgiana. Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Friday, Sept. 6 at Johnson Funeral Home with Rev. Randy Harvill officiating. Following the funeral on Friday, burial will be at Milner Cemetery in Georgiana.  

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Frank and Nannie Lee Sellers and Hershal and Lilly Armstrong Watson; his parents, James Harold and Jimmie Vee Watson, all of Butler County, and by his son-in-law, John Davis Sewell, of Atlanta, Georgia.  He was born Aug. 25, 1945 in Greenville, grew up in the Starlington Community in Butler County and graduated from Georgiana High School in 1963. While in high school, he had a successful football career and went on to attend Auburn University where he met the love of his life, Dorothy Louise (Dot) West, of Birmingham. They were married Sept. 11, 1965, in Saint Andrews Episcopal Church in Birmingham.  

The couple continued to live in Auburn until completing their Bachelor of Science degrees, Lynn’s in Agricultural Economics and Dot’s in Home Economics. In 1968, with college degrees in hand and a one-year-old baby girl in tow, they moved back to Georgiana, where they would build a life together.  Lynn joined his father in their family timber contracting business and was instrumental in establishing South Butler Academy where he also served as one of the coaches of the school’s first varsity football team.

Lynn grew up attending Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church in Starlington with his parents and siblings and later, after returning to Butler County after college with his family, joined St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Greenville.

Lynn was loved by many, never met a stranger, and lived a colorful life, with interesting and exciting stories, many of which would be inappropriate to recount herein.  (Most of you who knew Lynn Harold know exactly what we mean.)  In 1967, he served as an MP in the National Guard in Fort Benning, Georgia. During his service, he had the unique experience of escorting actor, John Wayne, around the base during the making of the film “The Green Berets.”  

Lynn also had a long history in Alabama politics, serving as City Councilman for the City of Georgiana for several years, Mayor of Georgiana for 20 years, and then on the Butler County Board of County Commissioners.  

He loved to fish, liked tending to his cows and his dogs, and particularly enjoyed Auburn Football.  He was passionate about country music, especially the music of Hank Williams, Sr., whose boyhood home was also Georgiana.  During Lynn’s time as Mayor of Georgiana, he facilitated the purchase of Hank Sr.’s boyhood homestead which is now the Hank Williams Boyhood Home and Museum and serves as the focal point of the annual Hank Williams, Sr. Festival held in June of each year.  Lynn was the Chairman of the Hank Williams Boyhood Home and Museum for 31 years.

Lynn not only loved serving his community, but also valued being a part of his small hometown.  He often talked about how much he loved and appreciated the lifelong friendships that he had and the individuals that he knew he could always count on.

Mr. Watson is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy Louise West Watson, his three children, daughter, Kimberly Watson Sewell, of Watersound, Florida; son and daughter-in-law, Franklin Harold and Magen Watson, of Freeport, Florida and son and daughter-in-law, Christopher Harold and Katie Watson, of Freeport Florida; five grandchildren, Georgiana Belle Watson, Nolan Harold Watson, Carlin Joan Watson, Ruby Webb Watson and Lane Davis Watson and numerous beloved cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers will be Mr. Watson’s grandson, Nolan Harold Watson, his nephew, James Thomas Watson, and his dear friends, William S. (Billy) Hugghins, Kendall Bozeman, Shep Pierce, Alvin Stinson, Frank Betterton and Charlie Modica. 

Online condolences may be made at www.johnsonfhal.com.