Carmela Tawana Watson, affectionately known as Millie was born on January 13, 1967, to Carolyn M. White and James T. Watson in Washington, DC. She transitioned to her final resting place on January 24, 2022. Carmela was educated in the Washington, DC Public School System and graduated from Dunbar Senior High School in 1985. Upon graduation she joined the United States Army where she would go on to serve her country for twenty years, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class.

While in the Army, Carmela traveled to many places, met a lot of people that would become like family and accomplished many things. One of her accomplishments that she was most proud of was being a mother to her three children: Shenae, Andrea and Nicholas. In 2001, Carmela obtained a bachelor’s degree from Saint Leo University in Business Administration and in 2005 she obtained a master’s degree in Business Administration from Saint Leo University. Carmela also loved to travel to new places with her friends and family.

After her retirement from the US Army in 2007, Carmela moved to Cornelius, NC where she would begin her next career as a teacher at Hunter Huss High School. Carmela, also known as Ms. Watson, would go on to teach Business Law, Principles of Business, Career Management and Entrepreneurship I for the next fifteen years. Carmela had a love for education and children and was all about giving back and helping those in need. During her free time, Carmela volunteered as the Step Team, JV Cheerleading and Dance Team Coach. She also helped to plan and organize several senior class trips. The love she had for her students was like no other, she believed in them and only wanted what was best for them.

At the time of her passing Carmela was in school working to obtain a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) with a dissertation topic of Entrepreneurship and Poverty from Saint Leo University. She was also the grandmother of six grandchildren whom she loved to travel and spend time with.

Carmela was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents, Julius J. Miller and Mary J. Miller, her paternal grandparents, John Watson and Emma Watson, her brother Calvin Jones, her aunts Annie Mae Miller, Margaret Ann Dockery and Julia A. Miller, her uncle James “Bo” Miller, her niece Shamika Smith and close friends, Theresa Reed and Trina Miller. She leaves to cherish her memory her parents, Carolyn M. White (Eugene) and James T. Watson; three children, Shenae Watson, Andrea Smith and Nicholas Watson (Sarah); six grandchildren, Cameron Johnson, Vanessa Watson, McKenzie Martin, Xavier Watson, Bailee Smith and Zorrah Watson; three sisters, Cheryl Watson, Mary Nicholson and Jasmine Wilkins and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, godchildren, relatives and friend

Funeral Arrangements Are As Follow:

Place: Hunter Huss High School, 1518 Edgefield Avenue, Gastonia, NC 28052

Date & Time: Saturday, February 5, 2022 @ 11:00 A.M.

Burial: Gaston Memorial Park, 1200 S New Hope Road, Gastonia, NC 28054

Visitation: At the school on Saturday from 10:00 until 11:00 A.M.