Julia Howland Zimmer Rogers Watt

Services for Julia Howland Zimmer Rogers Watt, 83, Thomasville, are at 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 24, 2002 at St. Thomas' Episcopal Church. The Rev. Charles Bennett will officiate. A memorial service for family members at Laurel Hill Cemetery will precede the worship service at St. Thomas'. Mrs. Watt died at John D. Archbold Memorial Hospital on April 20, 2002. Born July 3, 1918 in Lynchburg, VA, she was the daughter of the late Rev. George Floyd Rogers and Louisa Watts Zimmer Rogers. She was married to Charles Hansell Watt, Jr., M.D., who preceded her in death. They were married June 9, 1945 in Ashville, NC. Mrs. Watt was a homemaker and an exceptional wife, mother, and friend. As a child, Mrs. Watt contracted a rare tumor on her right leg, which required over 25 surgeries and numerous bone and skin grafts to correct, culminating in her case's being presented to the American Medical Association as an experimental success never previoulsy attempted. These procedures were performed by Dr. Wylie Moore of Charlotte, NC. This experience helped give her a firm basis for her undying spirit, determination and kindness toward others. She graduated from Chatham Hall, Chatham, VA, in 1937, where she was President of the Glee Club and high school choir, Secretary of the Race Relations Department, May Court Maid of Honor, member of the Student Council and Drama Club. She graduated from Converse College, Spartanburg, SC, in 1941, where she was President of the Student Council and a member of the Math-Science Club, as a chemistry major. She took a job in Baltimore, MD as a laboratory technician, where she also performed several nursing duties. There she met her husband of 53 years, Dr. Watt. They were in the Army Medical Corps stationed in Miami, FL and then Ft. Knox, KY, before resuming Dr. Watt's training in Baltimore. In 1951, they returned to his hometown of Thomasville. Mrs. Watt had an uncommon love of classical music, and was a talented pianist. She first cultivated a love of music from her first teacher, Lillian Plonk, owner of Plonk School, Asheville, NC. As a child, she was regulary a soloist at Trinity Church, Ashville, where her father was Rector for over 20 years until his death. Mrs. Watt was a longtime, tireless supporter of the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation, of which she served as President from 1963 through 1965. She was president of the Thomasville Junior Service League, a member of the Junior League of Asheville, NC, held numerous PTO offices in the Thomasville public schools, and was a member of the National Society of Colonial Dames in America in the State of Georgia. She was a long-time, dedicated member of the choir of St. Thomas' Episcopal Church, and was active in the work of the Women of the Church. She and her husband, Charlie, entertained and recruited hundreds of prospective physicians in their home and elsewhere. The current medical staff of Archbold Memorial Hospital is filled with exceptional physicians successfully recruited by this fabulous ''team.'' Two siblings preceded her in death, George Floyd Rogers, Jr., and Louise Watts Zimmer Rogers Frank, of Valle Crucis, NC and Helena, MT, respectively. She is survived by two sons and daughters-in-law, Charles H. ''Chip'' Watt, III and Virginia Meyers Seale Watt, and Wylie Moore Watt, Sr. and Denise Bryan Watt, all of Thomasville; sisters Margaret Nimmo Rogers Turner and Eleanor Floyd Rogers Rogers, both of Columbus, NC; and four grandchildren, Charles Hansell Watt, IV, Macon, GA, Julianne Eileen Watt, Athens, GA, Wylie Moore Watt, Jr., Tallahassee, FL, and Bryan Rogers Watt, Thomasville. In leiu of flowers, donations may be made to the Thomasville Entertainment Foundation, Archbold Foundation, Boys' Home, Covington, VA. founded in 1906 by her father, or the charity of the donor's choice.