Charlie Watson Obituary

Charlie Thomas Watson, son of Thomas Wilton and Mary Sue Culbertson Watson, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4. at McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville. He passed to the next world near a portion of the Reedy River, close to which he had lived his entire life. A graduate of Berea High School, he served as yearbook photographer and seemed to know everyone in the school during his tenure. He attended Greenville Tech for accounting and later served as publicity photographer for Tech and for the Greenville Health Department. Because he never saw a stranger he moved easily into the business world. He began in high school as the youngest salesman in the original Myers-Arnold store on Main Street, now Mast General Store, and worked there with his mother who worked in the business office. Charlie continued to work in business sales at Reid Office Supply, Kearns Office Supply, and served as a trainer at Sharp Business Systems for 28 years. During his career he never stopped pursuing other interests. He owned a hot air balloon named "Dragon Lady" and was a licensed balloon pilot in some of the first Freedom Weekend Aloft weekends. Charlie taught scuba diving, served as a scoutmaster, and performed in Easley's Foothill Players. When Charlie and Jane Morlan became life partners in 1997, they pursued life together just as enthusiastically. He designed and built sets for seven musical productions at Hillcrest High School and never missed chaperoning trips to Washington, DC and New York City when Jane's students performed. Parkinson's Disease limited him some in later years but the PD class at Prisma Health YMCA in Simpsonville became another place where he gained physical strength and encouraged others with his wit and perseverance. The music at First Baptist Church, Greenville, drew him to become a member who attended every Sunday the choir sang. Charlie is survived by his life partner of 28 years, Jane Birmingham Morlan; by his sister, Wanda Watson Jones (David); nephews, Matthew Jones (Melissa) and Brandon Jones (Kayla); great-nieces, Adeline, Savannah, and Cora Jones; and will also be missed by many beloved cousins and friends. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation; the The Parkinson's Foundation; the Greenville County YMCA, the Music Fund of First Baptist Church, Greenville, or the charity of one's choice. We will gather to celebrate Charlie's life on Friday, October 17, 2025 at First Baptist Church, Greenville with a time of visitation beginning at 2:00 p.m. followed by the memorial service at 3:00 p.m. Charlie will then be laid to rest in the First Baptist Church columbarium. Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Charlie with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".