Lola Watts

Graveside services for Lola Estelle Burks Briggs Watts will be held Saturday at 2pm at Cedarlawn Cemetery in Scooba. Bro. Jamie Bailey and Bro. James Granger will be officiating.  Stephens Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements.

Mrs Watts, 92, formerly of Kemper County, passed away Wednesday in Ridgeland, MS.

Lola Estelle Burks was born on December 13, 1928, in Electric Mills, Mississippi, to Ed and Estelle Persons Burks. Lola lived her early childhood in Blytheville, Arkansas, before moving with her parents to Wahalak, Mississippi, at age 12.

Lola married Grace Withers Briggs on January 29, 1948. Their first son, Eddie, was born in 1949, followed by Robert “Bob” in 1953. The Briggs family operated a truck stop on Highway 45 in Scooba for many years, after which Lola worked in the cafeteria at East Mississippi Community College for 21 years, retiring at the age of 62.

Following the death of her first husband in 1988, Lola was “courted” by her Eighth Grade sweetheart, Allen “Gene” Watts. They were married on March 8, 1990, and enjoyed a wonderful life together until his passing in 2015.

Anyone who knew Lola knew that the lights of her life were her five grandchildren: Gerad, Katie, Polly, Sunny, and Amber. She delighted in spoiling them and was never happier than when her family was gathered around her table for Sunday lunch. Her grandchildren will remember their “Nanny” for her open door policy at anytime day or night, her good cooking, her willingness to listen, and her solid, often blunt advice. She told them often “It’s a great life if you don’t weaken.”

Lola is survived by her son, Eddie Briggs and wife Becky; grandson Gerad Briggs and wife Christina; granddaughters Katherine Collier, Polly Briggs, Sunny Briggs, and Amber Briggs; and great-grandchildren Crockett Collier, Carley Pugh, Hallie Pugh, Easton Briggs, and Rosemary Gercken. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son Robert “Bob” Briggs, and her husband, Allen “Gene” Watts.

The family wishes to extend a special thanks to the staff of The Blake in Ridgeland, Sta Home Hospice and Mrs. Kathy Blanks.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorials be made to the Scooba United Methodist Church or the Alzheimer’s Foundation of America.

Friends may sign the online register at www.stephensfunerals.com.