Iona "Mickey" Shamblin Watson

Iona “Mickey” Shamblin Watson passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus with her family by her side on December 8, 2023 at McLeod Hospice House. Her funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, December 11, 2023 at Calvary Baptist Church in Florence, South Carolina. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. Burial will be at Florence Memorial Gardens directed by Stoudenmire-Dowling Funeral Home. Mickey was born in Willis Branch, West Virginia, on June 10, 1932. She was the eldest daughter of Theodore Roosevelt Shamblin and Naomi McMillion Shamblin. She was educated in Pax, West Virginia schools and attended the Pax Advent Christian Church. In 1949, she met the love of her life after their pen pal relationship blossomed into a romantic one. Following his service in the United States Army in Korea for three years, Austin “Gene” Watson headed straight to West Virginia to meet Mickey in person for the first time. Ten days later they were married and on their way to Florence, South Carolina, to begin their new life. The Lord blessed them with two daughters within the first four years of their marriage. She loved to cook for her family and was a self-taught seamstress who made their dance and majorette costumes. She also loved to write poetry and had several published. Mickey was a devoted mother and wife, a creative homemaker, and her husband's loving caretaker for the last twelve years of their fifty-year marriage. As a member of Calvary Baptist Church, Mickey was active in her Sunday school class, the WMU, and the homebound ministry where she served as its chairwoman. She felt the Lord gave her a heart for the caretakers as well as those who were home bound as a result of her life experience. She also served on the prayer chain and communion committees. Sending cards to her church family members was also her personal ministry. Mickey is predeceased by her parents; husband, Austin "Gene" Watson; brother, Maxie Shamblin; and her sister, Leona Humphrey. Surviving are her daughters, Donna (Tommy) Doriety and Terry (Gene) Robinson; grandchildren, Kristy (Chris) Burch, Austin Doriety, Wesley Doriety, Bradley (Kellie) Doriety, Justin Robinson, Rev. Clay Robinson, McLeod (Hallie) Robinson; great-grandchildren, Hallie Powell, Zachary Hughes, Amber Plummer, Hunter Doriety, Macey Doriety, Sierra and Skyler Doriety, Kyle, MacKenzie, and Kaiden Doriety, Gabby Moser, Luke, Millie, Hank, Wyatt, Clara Beth, Sallie, and Maggie Robinson and 7 great-great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother, Earland Shamblin; her sister, Bonnie (Howard) Moss; and special nieces, Robin Jeffords and Tricia (Wesley) Pierce. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Home Care Ministry of Calvary Baptist Church, 915 Cherokee Road, Florence, SC 29501.