Ansel Watts

Mr. David Ansel Watts, age 84, went to be with his Lord on Sunday, February 20, 2022, at his home.A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 25, 2010 at the Fort Mill Church of God, with the Rev. Mark Leonhardt and the Rev. Dr. Tom Grassano officiating. Burial will follow at Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery in Indian Land. Pallbearers will be Clay Slagle, Tommy Grassano, Ryan Rape, Braden McCarver, Brad Watts, Brandon Helms, Colby Benfield, and Reily Benfield.Ansel entered this life on August 18, 1937, in Fort Mill, South Carolina. He was the last surviving child of the late Boyd Feophlus Watts and Atlanta Morton Watts. Ansel went to work at Springs Mills as an early age, needing to help support his family when his brothers went off to serve in the military. He went on to work for Celanese Corporation for 14 years then retired from Graphic Packaging. Ansel was a life-long member of the Fort Mill Church of God where he attended the Sanctuary Sunday School class and was a member of the Jubilee Choir and the Young at Heart.In 1968, he married Brenda Faye Pettus (d. 2010). They were both very musically talented and sang together with Ansel’s brother, B.F., in “The Watts Trio” Other musical groups Ansel preformed with include: “The Kensmen Quartet”, “The Chordsmen” and “The Messengers” for over 55 years, and the Sounds of Praise and Voices of Victory Choir of the Fort Mill Church of God for more than 30 years. Most recently, he was a member of the Remembrance Trio. Ansel was an accomplished self-taught pianist who played solely by ear.Leaving to mourn his passing are his daughter, Sharon “Shari” Elizabeth Watts Benfield of Indian Land; his son, James David “Davy” Watts of Indian Land; his two grandsons, Colby Craig Benfield and Reily Reece Benfield; nephews, Rev. Dr. Tom Grassano (Lidia) of Greenville, Brad Watts (Pam) of Rock Hill; great niece, Angelica Grassano; great-nephews, Cody Watts, Chase Watts and Tommy Grassano; and “Brother” John Wilson (Patsy), whom he loved like family. In addition to his parents and wife, Ansel was preceded in death by his sister, Atha Watts Grassano and two brothers, B.F. and James Watts.The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, February 24, 2022, at the Fort Mill Church of God Sanctuary.Memorials may be made to the Young at Heart at the Fort Mill Church of God, 221 Academy Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715 and to Urban Harvest Ministries, www.UrbanHarvestMinistries.org – P.O. Box 25237, Greenville, SC 29615.Read Obituary