Thelma Joyce "TJ" Spence Watts

Thelma Joyce "TJ" Spence Watts

March 20, 1943 – July 31, 2026

Heaven gained an extra-special angel on July 31, 2026. Thelma Joyce "TJ" Spence Watts, of Keysville, Virginia, born March 20, 1943, to the late Mildred Lynch Spence Elam and the late William Lee Spence, is survived by her husband of 63 years, William Albert Watts, daughters Dixie Watts Dalton (Johnny) and Angela Watts Johnson (Tim), son Jeffrey Lynn Watts (Caroline), and grandchildren Sara Elizabeth Carson Watts (fiancé Andrew Moore), Christian Dakota Hall (fiancée Hannah Carter), Austin Hall (Chesney), and Avery Love Johnson, and great grandchildren Kinsleigh Grace Hall and Oaklynn Wren Hall. She was also blessed with bonus grandchildren, Cassie Davis, Chad Davis, Grace Reynolds, Kyle Dalton (Stephanie), and Jacob Dalton, and bonus great-grandchildren, Sydney Moore, Aleigha Jones, and Devin McCargo. She also leaves behind sisters-in-law, numerous nieces and nephews, and countless friends. In addition to her parents, she was predeceased by her brothers Wilbert Lee Spence, Jr. and Aubrey Gray Spence, and her step-father, Russell Elam.

TJ was well-known for her kind and giving heart, including making and sharing her famous chicken salad and pimento cheese, made with her homemade sweet pickle. She was a proud graduate of Randolph-Henry High School where she met some of her best friends. She then had a long career in retail and food service, including owning the Snack Shack in Meherrin, before spending the last 17 years of her career working with Southside Community Hospital (now Centra Southside) in its material management and X-ray departments, where she again made many lifelong friends.

In her youth, she was a competitive go-cart racer, often beating the men that she raced against. Later in life, she enjoyed watching her kids and grandkids play sports (and played softball herself in her younger days), and she traveled with the Rebels softball team, where Albert coached and Dixie and Angie played, providing picnic foods between tournament games. Her license plate, "Ma Rebel," proclaimed her multi-decade support. She always enjoyed baking and cooking for family gatherings and church and community celebrations, including what, for a while, was the annual Watts family barbeque and bluegrass bash, where she helped host hundreds of friends. She also absolutely loved Christmas, which she always said was her favorite time of the year because she enjoyed having the entire family under one roof. For years, she hosted extended family and neighbors for the annual Christmas Eve celebration where people enjoyed good food, fellowship, and gathering around the 10-foot Christmas tree.

She was a devoted and loving wife, mom, and grandma, and following every family visit in recent years, she would tell Albert, “We have the best children and grandchildren.” Any credit those children and grandchildren can take is a direct result of having TJ and Albert as their role models.

Before her memory decline took its toll, TJ was a devoted member of Ontario Christian Church where she held several leadership roles and always enjoyed her turn to provide the weekly devotion during Sunday School.

TJ was surrounded by loving family and friends, and she never failed to express her heartfelt appreciation to all who lent a helping hand. The family extends special thanks to her hospice caregivers, Tina Tyree, Debra Williams, and Truley Trammell, along with primary care physician, Dr. Margaret Inge, who all became like family.

Browning-Duffer Funeral Home (110 H Street) in Keysville is handling arrangements. Visitation will be held at the funeral home on Monday, August 3, from 6 to 8 p.m. The funeral will take place at Ontario Christian Church (175 Old Kings Road, Drakes Branch) at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, August 4, with graveside services to follow. Pastor Bobby Duffy and Chaplain Truley Trammell will be officiating. A time of fellowship will be held at the home of Angie and Tim Johnson, 225 Rockbrook Farm Road, in Keysville at the conclusion of the services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Ontario Christian Church, or the charity of your choice.