Nedra Diane Watson was born on June 4th, 1945 in Detroit Michigan to the late Nathan Watson and Annie
Mae Watson.
Nedra shared a child with Willie Jefferson. This child was, Eric Nathaniel Jefferson. She also fostered many
children throughout her life. One child she fell in love with and adopted as her own was, Ted Jeffery Watson.
Nedra attended Girls’ Catholic Central High School in Detroit, Michigan. Upon graduating, she attended
Wilberforce University in Wilberforce, OH. During this time Nedra joined the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc. Nedra continued her quest toward education by attending the University of Toledo, in Toledo, OH. This
is where she received her Master of Education degree in March 24, 1979. This was the beginning of her
teaching career. She taught at Lincoln Elementary and eventually started teaching at Keyser Elementary.
This is where she continued her teaching career for many years until she retired from Keyser Elementary in
April of 1999.
After her retirement, Nedra continued to keep herself busy by working part time jobs and working as a
head usher at her church, Indiana Avenue Missionary Baptist Church. This is where she was a member for
many years.
People everywhere loved Nedra. It almost seemed like there was nothing that she couldn’t do. She bowled,
she ushered, she taught, she planted gardens, she raised two boys to become men, she looked after/
cared for her mother when she became ill. Nedra did it all.
She did all of this until her health no longer allowed her. At this point, her son Eric and wife Renee moved
her and Ted to Columbus, OH to be much closer and for Eric to look after his mom and brother.
Nedra lived in Columbus, OH until the Lord called her home. She will truly be missed by family, friends and
anyone who had the pleasure of knowing her.
Nedra was preceded in death by her parents, Nathan Watson and Annie Mae Watson.
She was a devoted Mother, godmother, cousin, and friend. Seeing her bright smile, hearing her laughter, and
watching her do her little dance will always be a reminder of how much she not only loved people, but also
loved her pets and life in general. She leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Eric Jefferson (daughter-in-law
Renee Jefferson) and Ted Watson; fi rst cousins Aleeca D., Tina, Tyrone W. Woods Family, and Aceela A.
Woods-Shanklin; fi rst cousins Darryl Dye, Dr. Elaine White, Joann Benton, Crystal Griffi n, The Watson and Dye
Family; fi rst cousins Richard, Tonya and Kim and The Lewis Family; uncle Derrick Bryant; godsister/best friend
Judith Bryant (Charles) and The Bryant Family; cousin Eugene Williams (Shirley) and The Williams Family;
cousin Regina Shinaul (Keith) and The Shinaul Family; cousin Sam Winters (Audrey) and The Winters Family;
cousin Arvita McMickens (Dennis) and The Cleveland Family; Gwen ❤ and Saul Gilmore and The Gilmore
Family; Gaye Roberts and The Roberts Family; Gloria Sturdivant (Tyrone) and The Sturdivant Family; Barbara
Shirrod (Terry) and The Shirrod Family; Charles, Kellie, Antonio, Sean and The Tuggle Family; Althea Shaheer
(Oscar) and The Shaheer Family; Brenda Watkins (Jeff) and The Watkins Family; Mary Kelley (Gene) and
The Kelley Family; Bobby and Dwayne (Favorite Neighbor) Dotson and The Dotson Family; Robert and
Madgeline Fields, The Fields Family, The Folsome Family, The Jenkins Family, The Williams Family; Elaine Kyle,
Pat Page, Helen Salea, Beverly Tucker, Carolyn West; godchildren Juaquin Bryant, Catrina Harris, Tirrell
Sturdivant; the staff at the Laurels of Norworth, the staff at Oakleaf Village and a host of other relatives and
friends.