Martha Jane KINNARD

     Martha Jane KINNARD was born on 15 January 1888 in Alabama, the daughter of Esau Kinnard and Isabel Hill.

Martha married Charlie McCoy WATTS, son of George Weaver WATTS and Adelia Reed, on 12 September 1906 at the home of J. E. Kinnard in Bibb County, Alabama. L.^1,2

Martha Jane KINNARD and Charlie McCoy WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 3 May 1910 in Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as C. M. Watts, a 24-year-old whose occupation was hauling logs, and his 21-year-old wife, Martha. This was the first marriage for each and they had been married five years. Martha was the mother of two children, both living. Both could read and write, and were renting their home. Their children were Craythern [Crathon], 2, and Otis, 8 months old. They were mistakenly listed as female. Living next door were Martha's parents, J. E. and S. S. Kinard. Mr. Kinard operated a general store.³

Martha Jane KINNARD and Charlie McCoy WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 7 February 1920 in James Beat, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as C. M. Watts, a 32-year-old blacksmith, and his wife, Martha, age 31. Their children were Craythan, 12; Otis, 10; Pascal, 6; Cecil, 3 years 9 months; and Eldridge, 8 months old. They lived on the Scottsville road.

Martha Jane KINNARD and Charlie McCoy WATTS appeared as head of household on a census enumerated 16 April 1930 in James Beat, Bibb County, Alabama. The household was listed as C.M. Watts, 44-year-old woods forman for a saw mill; Martha, his 42-year-old wife; and their six children: Otis M., 20; Pascal, 16; Cecil, 14; Eldridge, 10; Wayne, 7; and Gesner, 1 year, 6 months. Otis ran the family farm and his brothers, Pascal and Cecil worked for him.⁴

Charlie McCoy WATTS and Martha Jane WATTS appeared in a newspaper article 16 August 1945 in the The Centreville Press, published in Centreville, Alabama. Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Watts Have Three Boys in Service -- Mr. and Mrs. Charlie Watts of near Centreville have three sons in service. They are as follows: Pvt. Charlie Cecil Watts, Sgt. Eldridge C. Watts and Cpl. Wayne L. Watts.

Pvt. Cecil Watts has now been in the service about ten months and is now in the Army of occupation in Germany. He was formerly stationed at Camp Robinson, Ark. before going overseas.

Sgt. Edldridge Watts, who has been in the service now about four years and is now with the 7th Division on Okinawa. His mother got a telegram stating that he was wounded in the fighting there but he is now getting along fine. He was formerly in the invasion of Attu, Kawalejin, Layte and Okinawa and is now expected home soon.

Cpl. Wayne L. Watts who has been in the service two and a half years has just returned to camp after a sixty-three day furlough. Cpl. Watts formerly served with the 45th Division in the 5th and 7th Armies. He formerly fought in Italy, France and Germany. He was wounded and captured in January and after being a prisoner for about 4 months was liberated. He is now returned to Miami Beach, Fla. for reassignment.

Martha Jane KINNARD died on 22 June 1962 in Centreville, Bibb County, Alabama, at age 74.⁵ She was buried in Brent Memorial Cemetery.

Martha's obituary was printed on 26 July 1962 in the Centreville Press newspaper, published in Centreville, Alabama. It read: "Mrs. Martha Watts Succumbs After Long Illness-- Mrs. Martha Watts, age 74 years, passed away at the Bibb County Hospital June 22nd, after a long illness. All was done for her that loving hands could, but God saw fit to call her home out of her suffering with patience. She leaves to mourn her loss her husband, Charlie M. Watts; six sons, Crathon Watts of Centreville, Otis Watts, Pascal Watts, Wayne Watts and Cecil Watts of Tuscaloosa; and one daughter, Mrs. Van Caffee, of Tuscaloosa; two brothers, Midge Kinnard of Georgia and Chuck Kinnard of Bessemer; three sisters, Mrs. Rillie Wilson of Ohio, Mrs. Emma Montgomery of Tuscaloosa, Mrs. Lillie Bradford of Bessemer; 24 grandchildren; eight great grandchildren and a host of relatives and friends. Pallbearers were the grandsons, L. T. Watts, George Watts, William Watts, Earle Watts, Melvin Watts and Coy Watts. Funeral services were held on June 24th at Scottsville Baptist Church with interment in the Brent Memorial Cemetery, with Jack Lee Funeral Home in charge."