THE REV. MARY NESBITT WATFORD

The Rev. Mary Nesbitt Watford, widow of Frank W. Watford Sr., passed away Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2024, at Prisma Health Tuomey in Sumter.
Born Sept. 14, 1938, in the Atkins community of Lee County, she was a daughter of the late Martin Luther “M.L.” Nesbitt and the late Bertha Louise Harrington Nesbitt.
She was the pastor of New Testament Lighthouse Church.
Survivors include two sons, Willis Watford Jr. (Mary) of Sumter and Ronnie Watford (Tammy) of Columbus, North Carolina; nine grandchildren, Frankie Watford (Jessica), Adam Watford (Katherine), Ethan Watford, Wyatt Watford, Eddie Reece (Miranda), Matthew Reece (Savannah), Josh Reece, Brett Norris (Megan) and Tori Wycoff; 12 great-grandchildren, Jackson Watford, Payton Watford, Brice Watford, Sydney Watford, Abby Watford, Lexy Watford, Hannah Reece, Madalynn Reece, Kerston Norris, Jackson Norris, Tanner Norris and Jordan Norris; a brother, Jimmy Nesbitt (Margaret) of Andrews; a sister, Betty Jean McCollum (Frank) of Bamburg; sisters-in-law, Sara Nesbitt of McCool, Mississippi, and Barbara Nesbitt of Early Branch; and a special friend and caregiver, Myrtle Ann DeWitt.
In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her stepmother, Carrie Bell Harrington Nesbitt; a daughter, Karen Reece; son-in-law, Lamar Reece; and siblings, Herbert Nesbitt, Rufus Nesbitt, James Allison Nesbitt and Martha Magalene Nesbitt.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, in the Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Clyde Chan officiating. Burial will be in the Evergreen Memorial Park Cemetery.
Grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 29, at Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Memorials may be made to New Testament Lighthouse Church, 1114 Boulevard Road, Sumter, SC 29153.
Elmore-Cannon-Stephens Funeral Home and Crematorium of Sumter is in charge of the arrangements.