Emily Ruth Watson attended her first annual meeting of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention (ABSC) in 1951. In the more than 70 years that followed, she was faithful in attendance, having said she missed no more than four or five meetings in that time.
Emily Ruth died March 26, 2025. She was 94 years old.
For many, Annual Meeting is not just a time to gather and focus on business. It’s a time to hear what God has laid on the hearts of pastors across the state, worship together as one body and nourish friendships created over the years.
Emily Ruth liked to attend the Annual Meeting for inspiration and on occasion, found it humorous. Emily Ruth was an avid supporter of the Cooperative Program and of GuideStone’s Mission Dignity ministry to retired church staff and their spouses in addition to being a prayer warrior for pastors and their families and the staff of the ABSC.
Emily Ruth spent her early years in Murfreesboro before her family moved to Little Rock. She often referred to herself as, “one of those Pike County diamonds that has never been cut or polished.”
On May 28, 1948, she graduated from Little Rock High School and married her husband, the late Jimmy Watson.
A few years after their marriage, Jimmy surrendered to the ministry and became pastor of Midway Baptist Church, Judsonia. Other pastorates included Martindale Baptist Church in Little Rock, Bethany Baptist Church in North Little Rock, Leonard Street Baptist Church in Hot Springs, First Baptist Church in Amity, Elliott Baptist Church in Camden, and Greenlee Memorial Baptist Church in Pine Bluff, where he remained for 18 years, retiring in 1989.
Throughout those years of ministry, Emily Ruth stood faithfully beside Jimmy, who died in 2005. She was active in WMU, taught Sunday School, served as church secretary and did just about anything to be done in church.
“Mrs. Watson was my pastor’s wife at Elliott Baptist Church in Camden during my teen years. I always admired her for the way she loved and provided for her large family. She was indeed a kind and loving lady to all and her commitment to the Lord was most evident. In recent years, she would call me every month or so to ask how Rex and I were doing, and how our family was. She was particularly concerned for our daughter, Wendy, as she ministered to orphans in Ukraine. I loved her and love her sweet family,” said Becky Horne, wife of ABSC Executive Director Rex Horne.
Emily Ruth and Jimmy raised five children to be faithful adults, seeing all of them accept Christ as Savior and follow Him. Their children include Matthew Watson, pastor at Northside Baptist Church in Star City; Obie Watson; the late Edward Watson; James Watson, pastor at Greenlee Memorial in Pine Bluff; and Cassie Price.
“I knew Mrs. Watson and Bro. Jimmy because they served the church Becky attended and I was in school with their kids. The Watsons have always been a wonderful family who loved the Lord, loved the church, loved people and Mrs. Watson knew how to pray,” Rex Horne said, adding he has enjoyed “seeing and being in touch with her pastor sons, James and Matthew, who I count as faithful friends.”
Mrs. Emily Ruth Watson’s obituary may be read here.
Mrs. Watson was featured in the October 2024 issue of Arkansas Baptist Life, click here to read the article.
2 Responses
Mrs. Watson was always down front at the ABSC annual meetings. She kept the officers on their toes with thoughtful questions and convicting statements. She will be missed.
Mrs. Watson was a great blessing to many, including my wife Leslie and me. She was unquestionably and unashamedly committed to the Lord and His Church, and because of her bold commitment to what she believed to be right, in doctrine and practice, she was indeed a force to contend with in the cause of Christ. I am blessed to have shared a portion of life and ministry with her and continue to enjoy serving alongside her family. I will miss her challenges, as well as her love and support.