Dr. Earl Watts

Dr. Lester Earl Watts, Sr., 84, passed away on December 27, 2016 at Brookridge Assisted Living. Dr. Watts was born on May 3, 1932 to Finley and Effie Blackburn Watts in Wilkes County. Dr. Watts received a B.S. from Wake Forest College in Wake Forest, NC in 1953; and received his M.D. from Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest College in Winston-Salem in 1957. He began his career in 1964 at Wake Forest University, Fellowship, Cardiology; and retired as Associate Professor of Internal Medicine with a lifetime of achievement and 37 years of service. Upon his retirement in June, 2004, he was assigned to the Emeritus House, working on projects for student and resident education and training for missionary work. He was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church for as long as his health permitted. Dr. Watts' 1980 medical mission to Baptist Hospital, Bangalor, India inspired him to establish the Wake Forest University Medical Mission Fund to help meet travel-related costs for students and residents interested in medical missions. He served in many professional capacities, including Director of Echo Laboratory; began transesophageal, intra operative and stress echo techniques at NCBH; Director of Courses in Echocardiography for technicians and physicians; introduced ultrasound technology to the Baptist Mission Hospital, St. Johns Medical School in Bangalore and Valore India during sabbatical mission; first Transplant Committee Chairman; Associate Chief of Professional Services. During his career he received multiple awards from the American College of Cardiology. Surviving are his loving wife of 58 years, Jo Anne Butler Watts; children, Lester Earl Watts, Jr. and wife, Tammy, of Mooresville, NC; and Laura Harris and husband, Jordan of Savannah, GA.; six grandchildren, and one great grandchild. He will be forever remembered as a man of God who dedicated his life to helping others. A memorial service will be held at 1:30 PM Thursday, January 5, 2017 at Calvary Baptist Church with Rev. Gary Byrum officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Medical Mission Training Fund at Wake Forest Medical Center, P.O. Box 571021, Winston-Salem, NC 27157-1021. Online condolences may be made at www.hayworth-miller.com

Previous Events

Cemetery Details