Sarah Helen Campbell Watterson

May 31, 1935 – February 8, 2025

Sarah Helen Campbell Watterson left this earthly life on Saturday, February 8, 2025.  She is now in Heaven with Jesus and her loved ones that went before her.  She was 89 years old and had been in declining health for several years.  She was the epitome of a Christian mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.  She always put everyone first before herself.  She will be missed by her family and friends who all loved and admired her.

Sarah was a devoted pastor’s wife who stood side-by-side with her husband, Reverend James Roland Watterson, Sr., as they served four churches in 35 years of active ministry: Eastside Baptist Church of Columbia, SC, First Baptist Church of North, SC, Red Bank Baptist Church in Saluda, SC, and Still Waters Baptist Church in Leesville, SC.  After Roland’s retirement they continued to serve at other churches including Rosewood Baptist in Columbia, SC, Good Hope Baptist in Saluda, SC, Mt. Ebal Baptist in Batesburg, SC, and Old Samaria Baptist in Batesburg, SC. 

In addition to serving alongside Roland in Christian ministry, Sarah forged her own career path and retired from AT&T (formerly Bell South) as an engineering assistant in 1996 after more than 20 years of service.  She was known at the office as “the flash” because she never stopped moving. 

Sarah was also a dedicated mother to her four sons, and once she retired, she enjoyed doting on her six grandchildren, tending to her beautiful flowers at their retirement home on Lake Murray, and “going to town” on Fridays for her shopping day.

Sarah is survived by four sons: James R. Watterson, Jr. (Connie), William Watterson (Sandra), Barry Watterson, and Myron Watterson (Cathy) and six wonderful grandchildren: Lauren, Michael (Candice), Eric, Sydney, Alex, and Samantha.  She also has one great-granddaughter, Jensen.  Sarah is the daughter of the late Willie Cleve Campbell and Maggie Roberts Campbell.  She was also preceded in death by her sisters, Juanita Jacobs (Frank) and Ruby Hooker (John L.), and her brother, Alvin Campbell.  She has one surviving sister, Mary Maresca of St. Augustine, FL and many nieces and nephews.

Sarah’s life will be celebrated in a memorial service conducted by Rev. Don Bell and Rev. Starrett Hall at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at the Thompson Funeral Home Chapel at 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209.  A graveside service will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park located at 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC. 

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Thompson Funeral Home on Leesburg Road prior to the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Fellowship Baptist Church in Lexington, SC or to Franklin Graham’s Samaritan’s Purse.