Mrs. Clara Pauline Byers Watts, 91, was born in Iredell County, N.C., on March 18, 1932, to the late Nathaniel James Byers and Ethel Lee Patterson Byers. She departed this life on Tuesday, January 9, 2024, at Gordon Hospice House in Statesville, N.C.

Clara graduated from Unity High School and attended Beauty School. She was a licensed cosmetologist.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, J. C. Watts; and a sister-in-law, Margie Byers.

She leaves to cherish her life’s memory one son, Michael (Sharon) Watts of Mooresville, N.C.; one daughter, Betty (Terry) Smyre of Statesville; three brothers, Jonathan Byers, Dennis Byers, and James (Joann) Byers; five grandchildren, Lisa (Shaun) Able of Texas, Tara (Kewaun) Hall of Charlotte, Brittany Watts of Mooresville, Westley (Tosha) Newton of Mooresville, and Chloe (Josh) Crenshaw of Florida; thirteen great grandchildren, Thomas Parson II, Tkeyah Parson, Thomas Parson III, Jevon Lewis, Airriana Lewis, Kara Hall, Kaleigh Hall, Kamden Hall, Caiden Hawbitz, Karsynn Hawbitz, Carter Newton, Aida Newton, and Beau Crenshaw; ten great-great grandchildren; a brother-in-law, Billy Watts; and many nieces and nephews, cousins, other relatives, and friends.

Celebration of Life services will be held on, January 17, 2024, at St. James Baptist Church at 12 noon. Reverend James Shade will officiate the service. Visitation will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12 nooon at the church. Burial will follow in the St. James Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visit the Book of Memories for Mrs. Brown at www.rutledgeandbigham.com.

Rutledge and Bigham Funeral Home is serving the Brown family.