Mother Zora Geneva McCall-Watters

Mother Zora McCall-Watters was born on November 22, 1935, to proud parents, the late Reverend D.L. McCall and the late Hattie Garner-McCall.

She accepted Christ as her Savior at a very early age in Delhi, LA, where she baptized and joined the Seven Star Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of her father, Reverend D. L. McCall. She enjoyed tennis, puzzle books, bowling, singing, doing crafts, and most of all, God’s word. She truly never met a stranger and because of her loving, kind, and giving spirit, she truly impacted so many lives during her lifetime. She not only loved God, but she loved all God’s people. Because of her giving heart, she would feed you, clothe you, and would give you her last dime without looking for anything in return. She would always say, “God will take care of me,” and he always did.

Zora graduated from Ester Toombs Hi School in Delhi in 1955. She later attended ULM where she received her Associate Degree and went on to attend Grambling where she graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor’s degree. Zora was also an All-State Basketball Guard Champion for four years. Because of her love for singing she was in several singing groups which took them all around the country.

Zora was united in holy matrimony to Lewis Thurman, and from this union, two children were born, Phyllis and Winnifred Thurman. She later married Alvin Watters. She taught at Headstart for 45 years where she retired in 2005. Over the years, Zora received a multiplicity of awards, commendations, acknowledgements, and achievements. She was voted “Woman of the Year” in 2017 along with several other godly women. She was a member of the N.A.A.C.P., and she served as a Worthy Matron of Eastern Star. Her greatest joy was becoming a Mother at New Saint James in 2018. Zora possessed so many outstanding qualities, and she had a personality and laughter that was contagious. She truly loved her family and loved spending time with all her friends at SCORE.

She was preceded in death by her father, Reverend D. L. McCall; mother, Hattie Sherman; husband, Alvin Watters; sisters, Della McCall Watters and Deloris McCall Knox; brothers, Reverend Daniel McCall, Barry, Joe, and Mickey McCall; and stepsister, Celane Rose Ingram.

She leaves to cherish her memories; one daughter, Phyllis Thurman; one son, Winnifred Thurman (Marie); three brothers, Toussaint McCall (Phyllis), Reverend Jerry Bailey (Ann), and Glenn McCall; two sisters, Jackie McCall-Arnold and Ysanna McCall; three stepchildren, Shelia Renee, Ava June, and Fritz Watters; special nieces and nephews; eleven grandchildren; twenty-two greatgrandchildren; eleven great-great grandchildren; two daughters-in-love; and a host of cousins, other relatives, and church family and friends.

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