Hattie Watts

Hattie Sue Watts peacefully passed away on December 19, 2025 at Deane Hill Assisted Living. She was born on February 23, 1943, to the late Robert and Elizabeth Penson.

Hattie was a beautiful soul with a heart for helping others. She gave her life to Christ at an early age at Mt. Zion A.M.E. Zion Church in Louisville, Tennessee, and later attended St. Paul Missionary Baptist Church in Alcoa, Tennessee. For more than 30 years, she was a faithful and active member of Mother Love Missionary Baptist Church in Louisville, Tennessee. She deeply loved her church family and served diligently on the Usher Board, the Mother’s Board and with any other ministry that needed her help until her health declined.

Hattie proudly graduated from Charles M. Hall High School and began her working career, she later retired from the Knoxville Metropolitan Airport Authority. During her retirement years, she enjoyed watching UT football, and any other sport on tv that peaked her interest. She enjoyed traveling to places that most only dream about. She truly lived life on her own terms—doing what she wanted, when she wanted to do it.

Hattie loved shopping, hosting family gatherings, and spending time with her friends. She also cherished her quiet moments at home, sitting on her couch watching The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful and reading the newspaper. If you happened to call during one of her shows, you were kindly informed she would call you back.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Billie Watts; her son, Shannon Lee Watts; her sister, Carolyn Penson; her brothers, Thomas Penson, Sr. and Joe Ronald Penson; her sister-in-law, Emma Penson; and her friend/travel partner, Robin Monroe.

She leaves to cherish her loving memory her son, Forrest Watts; her granddaughter, Deja Hundley; her sister-in-law, Dorthy Penson; her goddaughter, Renea Brooks; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins from the Penson, McBath, Scandrick, Tipton, Rowan, Coffin, and Scudder families.

Special friends who were like sisters include Shirley Rowans, Sonja Armstrong, Helen Long, Blenza Davis, and Eleanor M. Fowler.

In lieu of flowers, Hattie requested that donations be made to Habitat for Humanity and/or Mother Love Missionary Baptist Church.

Hattie Sue’s body will be available for viewing on Monday December 29, 2025 from 12:00 pm- 6:00pm at Foothills Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at 12:30 p.m. with funeral service to follow at 1 :00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2025 at Sherwood Memorial Gardens Mausoleum Chapel in Alcoa, Tennessee.