WATTS A teacher affects eternity, he can never tell where his influence stops." -Henry Adams A woman dedicated and compassionate who worked tirelessly to keep young people from falling through the cracks, Vivian Prudence Williams Watts, affectionately called V. P. and B. B., passed away quietly while sleeping in Singing River Hospital on Thursday morning, August 13, 2009.Some people teach with textbooks, maps and charts. Mrs. V.P. Watts taught by example, always caring, soft spoken and more than willing to listen patiently without judging anyone who sought her counsel. She was noted as a powerful and insightful teacher, counselor, and mentor who impacted both students and colleagues in a profound manner. V.P. was a force. She was direct, intense, honest, and insightful. She laughed loudly and was generous, positive, and loyal. All these traits meant that people frequently turned to her in times of joy and times of sorrow. Relationships with former students, friends, family, and colleagues were of paramount importance to her. She reveled in the company of friends and family. Junius Willie Williams and Florence Elizabeth Willis Williams were the parents of five girls. V. P. was the youngest. She was born on January 19, 1929 in Pascagoula, MS. She attended the Elementary School and Pascagoula Negro Carver High School where she excelled in all of her classes. V. P. was the youngest graduate in her class. She went on to major in Pre med and chemistry, minor in mathematics and education at Tougaloo College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science Degree. She was admitted to Meharry Medical School, but decided not to pursue that path at the time. She attended graduate school at Tuskegee University where she earned the Master of Education with emphasis in Chemistry and the Master of Education with emphasis in Guidance. V. P. didn't stop there. She attended the University of South Alabama; the University of Southern MS. Where she received the specialist degree with emphasis in Guidance. After graduating from Tougaloo College, she taught math and science to 8th and 9th grade students. Her plan was to teach one year to earn a little money to attend Meharry. God had another plan for her. That plan was to teach. She could not leave. She taught two years in Picayune, transferred to Carver High School in Pascagoula and taught high school math, physical science and chemistry for 14 years. She also served as Assistant Principal and Guidance Counselor for 5 years at Carver High. When the schools were integrated in 1970, V. P. moved to Pascagoula High School where she spent 20 years as a guidance counselor for grades 11 and 12, and as chairperson of Guidance from 1980 until her retirement in June of 1991 from the public school system after 41 years in public education. Mrs. Watts' exceptional teaching abilities had far-reaching proportions. She taught preparatory classes to 10th grade geometry students at Tougaloo College, and freshman math at Tuskegee University. She was also privileged to teach graduate research at Tuskegee. Mrs. Watts has not only been successful in public education, but she has also been a faithful warrior for our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Evident to all who knew her, she had a strong faith in God and dedicated herself to service in the church. She was a member of St. Peter Missionary Baptist Church all of her life. She had a beautiful singing voice and she used it in the youth choir and the senior choir. She served in several capacities in the church to include: Youth Leader; Sunday School Teacher; Chairperson of Education; Mission Sister; Sunday School Superintendent; and Church Secretary. She had been active in the District Convention and attended many church activities both statewide and abroad. She spoke on many occasions at churches, teen's activities, District, Congress, District Women's Conventions and St. Peter Catholic Mass. At the time of her passing, she was a Church Trustee and a Pastor's Aid Committee member. V. P. received many honors and awards to include Pascagoula High Faculty Awards and PN/CHS Carver High Alumni Awards. St. Peter Baptist Church held special programs honoring her contributions to the community. Some of her community activities included, Member of the Chamber of Commerce, Jackson County Teachers Association where she served as President when the groups were separate, and the Jackson County Retired Educators Association. She organized a tutoring service for Black students when students were required to pass a competency test. She served on the state committee to set standards for licensure of professional counselors. She was also a member of Tougaloo Alumni Association, Tuskegee Alumni Association, PNHS and Carver High School Alumni Association, the Seniors and Police Committee, AARP, and she held a life membership with the NAACP, National Education Association, State and National Retired Educators Associations. V.P. will be missed by her caring husband, Hezzie Watts of Pascagoula, MS and her sister, Mae Abrams of Denver, CO. Although she had no children of her own, there are several nieces and nephews that she helped raise and with whom she shared a special relationship to include nieces, Reverends Ann Pickett-Parker (James) of Moss Point, MS, Florence Titus of San Jose, CA, Evelyn Abrams of Denver, CO, and Celia and Vanessa Buford of Pascagoula, MS; nephew, Joseph (Melissa) Tyrus of Milpitas, CA. One step-son, Adam Gerald (Shelvin) Watts, one grand-daughter, Anisha Watts, all of Tampa, FL. Four sisters- in-law, Martha A. Watts, Millie A. Jefferson, Etta Price, all of Columbia, MS, and Artherine (Brady) Buckley of Jackson, MS; four brothers- in-law, Willie (Arlena) Watts, Tony (Gertie) Watts, Alex Watts, and Rossie Watts all of Columbia, MS. Manning. Several generations of nieces and nephews; numerous god-children, other relatives and friends. V.P. was preceded in death by her parents, and three sisters, Rosie Williams Malone, Marguerite Tyrus, and Alberta Buford. Public Visitation will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2009 at The Greater Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 1028 Denny Avenue, Pascagoula, MS at 10 a.m. with funeral services immediately following at 11 a.m. The Reverend William Marshall, pastor of St. Peter's Baptist church of Pascagoula will preside. Services entrusted to Turner Gulf Funeral Home. Interment: Gabriel Cemetery, Pascagoula, MS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Vivian P. Watts Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 1761 Pascagoula, MS 39581. This fund was established by the Pascagoula Negro Carver High School (PN/CHS) alumni association to provide scholarships to students pursuing a college degree. Published in Mississippi Press on August 16, 2009