October 30, 2022, 72, Mount Olive –

Early Sunday morning, October 30, 2022, James Earl Watts of Mount Olive, passed away while at Wayne Memorial Hospital.  He was 72.

In earlier years, Earl had been employed as a truck driver with Wayne Manufacturing Company, while most of his working years were with the Town of Mount Olive in its groundskeeping and maintenance department.

Earl is survived by a daughter, Tonya Stroud, and her husband, Steven, of Goldsboro; two grandchildren, Lizzie Watts and Spencer Cooksey, both of Goldsboro; step-grandchildren, Landon Stroud and Willow Stroud, both of Goldsboro, and Nick Stroud of La Grange; a brother, Walter H. Watts, Jr. of Greenville; three sisters, Rebecca W. Outlaw, Peggy W. Dickerson, and Patsy W. Gonzales, all of Mount Olive; along with several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter Hayes Watts and Mildred Strickland Watts; a brother, George Thomas Watts; and two sisters, Norma Carole Watts and Molly Watts.

Funeral services will be held Wednesday, November 2, at 6 p.m. from Tyndall Funeral Home, officiated by the Rev. Terry Heath, with visitation to follow. Burial will be Thursday, November 3, at 11 a.m. in Maplewood Cemetery.