Lester Hiram “J. R.” Watson, Jr., 80, of Tifton passed away Monday, March 9, 2026, at his residence. His funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Eastside Baptist Church with the Rev. Keith Norris officiating. Mr. Watson will be laid to rest at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at Eastside Baptist Church from 2:00 p.m. until the hour of the service.
The Deacons of Eastside Baptist Church will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be the members of First John Sunday School Class at Eastside Baptist Church.
Born May 16, 1945, in Tift County, Mr. Watson was the son of the late Lester Hiram Watson, Sr. and Dorothy Jackson Watson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter-in-law, Rebecca Watson; one sister, Willene Hobbs; and one great-grandson, Mac Frobos.
J. R. graduated from Tift County High School in 1963 and retired from United Parcel Service. He was an avid Atlanta Braves fan as well as a fan of the University of Georgia Bulldogs. He loved animals; and he was a member of Eastside Baptist Church.
Mr. Watson is survived by his wife, Opal Marchant Watson of Tifton; two sons, Keith Watson and his fiancé, Elizabeth Fleming, of Panama City Beach, Florida and Brian Watson and his wife, Erin of Dawsonville; two daughters and their husbands, Sonia and Tony Snow and Stacey and Paul McMillan, all of Tifton; one sister, Betty Jean Ward of Sparks; one brother-in-law, Garry Hobbs of Tifton; ten grandchildren and their spouses, Caroline and Joe Morgan, Kameron Watson, Stephanie and David Frobos, Josh and Jena McMillan, Sarah McMillan, Jackson Watson, Lakin Watson, Ashton Harper, Audrey Snow and Hunter Snow; and nine great-grandchildren, Elizabeth Morgan, Rebecca Morgan, Mason Frobos, James McMillan, Samuel McMillan, Selah McMillan, Kennedy Harper, Julie Anna Snow and Gracie Snow.