Sept. 8, 1923 – March 5, 2016

NATCHEZ — Services for Dorothy Watts Pickering, 92, of Natchez, who died Saturday, March 5, 2016, at her residence, will be 11 a.m. Thursday at Washington Baptist Church with the Rev. Carl Smith officiating.

Burial will follow at Greenlawn Memorial Park Cemetery under the direction of Laird Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.

Mrs. Pickering was born Sept. 8, 1923, in Lincoln County, the daughter of Elzie Watts and Lois Nettles Watts. She was a long time member of Washington Baptist Church and loved to cook and work in the yard. The lives of her children and grandchildren are better because of her strong Christian presence.

She was preceded in death her husband of 49 years, Barney Pickering; her parents; three sisters, Delma Dunigan Thorpe, Martha Walker Fauver and Agnes Fairchild; and five brothers, E.J. Watts, James Watts, Cecil Watts, Ralph Watts and Huey P. Watts.

Survivors include one daughter, Rebecca Norris of Natchez; two sons, Kenneth Pickering of Okeechobee, Fla., and Kirby Pickering and wife, Ann, of Natchez; two grandsons, Brian Pickering and wife, Jessicade, of Madison and Kris Pickering of New Orleans; two granddaughters, Angie Manley and husband, Dr. Justin Manley, of Birmingham, Ala., and Shannon Carter and husband, Chip, of Natchez; four great- grandchildren, Eli Pickering, Henry Manley, Sophia and Isaac Carter; one brother, A.C. Watts of Tulsa, Okla.; and a number nieces and nephews.

Pallbearers will be Brian Pickering, Kris Pickering, Chip Carter, Don Watts, Paul Arnold and Ivy Ray Thornton.

The family extends a special thank you to Rachael Grantham for her love and care.

Memorials may be made to Washington Baptist Church.

Online condolences may be sent to lairdfh.com.