Charles Watts

Published 8:48 am Friday, April 10, 2015

Charles Kendrick Watts died Wednesday, April 8, 2015. He was born Aug. 19, 1952, in Franklinton and resided in Baton Rouge all his adult life.

Charles is survived by his beloved wife, Paula Etheridge Watts; daughter, the Rev. Marion Watts Brown and husband the Rev. Nathan Brown; son, Charles Kendrick Watts Jr.; two grandchildren, Harrison Charles Brown and Clara Ann Brown; sister, Pamela Watts Rudnicki; and brother, Richard W. Watts.

Charles was preceded in death by his grandchild, Caroline Louise Brown; parents, France W. Watts Jr. and Elizabeth Ott Watts; brother, France W. Watts III; and sister, Susan Watts Richardson.

After receiving his undergraduate degree from Centenary College of Louisiana in 1973 where he was a member of the Centenary College Choir, Charles enrolled in the LSU School of Law and earned his Juris Doctorate in 1976. Charles practiced law in Baton Rouge his entire career and was a partner in the law firm of Seale, Smith, Zuber & Barnette. In addition to his bar memberships, he was a member of the Louisiana Land Title Association, Louisiana Bankers Association and the American Land Title Association. An active member of Blackwater United Methodist Church and the Louisiana Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, he served on numerous boards and committees locally and statewide. He was a 33rd degree mason and was a member of St. James Lodge No.47 F&AM and was a member of the various Scottish Rite bodies.

Visitation will be at Blackwater United Methodist Church, 10000 Blackwater Road, Central, La., on Friday, April 10, 2015, from 5 p.m. until masonic services at 7 p.m. Visitation will continue Saturday, April 11, 2015, from 9 a.m. until religious services at 11 a.m. Graveside services will follow at the Ott Family Cemetery in Mt. Hermon at 3 p.m. Honorary pallbearers will be Richard W. Watts, Charles Kendrick Watts Jr., Nathan C. Brown, John W. Watts, Chris B. Watts, Russell L. Richardson, Thomas O. Richardson, Robert W. Rudnicki and James W. Rudnicki.

Memorial donations may be made to the general fund of Blackwater United Methodist Church or the Greater Baton Rouge Area Food Bank.