Emma Dillard

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, October 8, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for Emma Watts Dillard, 90, of Natchez, who died Monday, Oct. 6, 2008, in Natchez, will be at 11 a.m. Thursday at Laird Funeral Home Union Street Chapel with Dr. Doug Broome and the Rev. Dan Wynn officiating.
Burial will follow at the Natchez City Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 9:30 a.m. Thursday until service time at the funeral home.
Mrs. Dillard was born Dec. 17, 1917, in Mist, Ark., the daughter of Thomas Jefferson and Mary Smith Lishman. She came to Natchez following the flood of 1927 and fell in love with the city, the people and its history. She became a licensed cosmetologist and instructor.
Mrs. Dillard was a successful business woman, operating Dillard’s Beauty School. If she didn’t do your hair, she taught someone who did. Everything interested her. She loved to fish and garden. She never knew the word “can’t.” Nothing was too difficult for her once she put her heart and mind to it. She never missed a party, and always came in good spirits. She loved everyone, and was loved by all. She will be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents; two husbands, Mack W. Watts and G.W. Dillard; one son, Johnny Mack Watts; an infant son, Jimmy Lee Watts; and five siblings, Irene Pevey, Annie Ruth Johnson, Fay “Drake” Lund, May “Duck” Mason and Johnny S. Lishman.
Survivors include four children, Patsy Rogillio and husband, Herbert, both of Vidalia, Henry Watts and wife, Kirby, and Daniel Dillard and wife, Janet, all of Natchez, and Joe Dillard of Orange County, Calif.; 12 grandchildren, Bert Rogillio, Stephen Rogillio, Mark Rogillio, Becky Rogillio, Joshua Watts, Jonah Watts, Weston Watts, Mackenzie Watts, Meggie Thompson, Selah Havard, Pate Dillard and Abby Dillard; a number of great-grandchildren; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers will be Weston Watts, Pate Dillard, Brandon Dillard, Stephen Rogillio, Keith Mason and Tommy Pevey.
Memorials may be made to Historic Natchez Foundation or a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be sent to www.lairdfh.com.