Our Story
Learn our story, from the beginning and into the future.
The history and legacy of
the Watson Family and Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium began in the 1830’s when Paynter Frame
Watson and his wife Anna Moor Watson founded the “P. F. Watson Carriage,
Harness & Tack, Furniture, Cabinet Making and Undertaking” business in
Centerville, Baltimore Hundred, Delaware.
This town is now known as Roxana, Delaware.
They had a son, Henry H.
Watson, who expanded the Undertaking Business and served as a Union Soldier
(discharged as a Sergeant) in the Civil War. The business moved to Selbyville,
Delaware after 1872 to be near the new train station as caskets were being commercially made and
could be shipped from Philadelphia by train.
By the late 1800’s,
Henry’s sons, Medford L. Watson Sr., Adolphus H. Watson, Pashur W. Watson, Sr.,
and Paynter F. Watson as well as his Grandsons, Henry H. Watson and Clinton H
Watson established new locations in other communities as the new trend in
mortuary care moved toward having Funeral Homes, rather than all the services
being provided by Undertakers at the decedent’s home or at a church. Henry’s sons and grandsons built Undertaking
businesses in Selbyville, Frankford, Seaford, Delaware and in Pocomoke City,
Maryland.
An unforeseen hardship occurred
in December 1936, when Henry’s son, Pashur W. Watson, Sr. was killed by a drunk
driver while making a removal from Delaware Hospital in Wilmington, leading to
his son Pashur W. Jr. and his wife Alberta to completely take over operations
of the Henry H. Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium and the Watson (Burial) Vault Company in
Selbyville, Delaware.
In 1965, their son
Richard T. Watson, Sr. graduated from the Eckels College of Mortuary Service in
Philadelphia, joined with them in operating the Selbyville location, and also
assisted the founders of James Funeral Home in Millsboro, Ronald and Gladys
James, with the operation of that funeral home eventually purchasing and
carrying the name James and Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium. The Selbyville and Millsboro funeral homes
were consolidated in Millsboro as Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium, Inc. Richard and Carol
Watson successfully expanded the business over the next three decades.
Richard and Carol Watson retired
in 2005 after 36 years of funeral service in Millsboro. Their son, Richard T.
Watson, Jr and his wife Tia, brought in a business partner, Robert L.
Herrington, Jr., and they became the Sixth Generation of the Watson Funeral
Home. Thus began an extensive period of renovation, modernization, equipment
replacement, implementation of a state-of-the-art computer system, staffing
upgrades and OSHA safety standards compliance.
Today the funeral
directors and staff of Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium carry on the traditions of caring
for families who have lost a loved one, as has been done by Watson family
members for over 190 years. They look forward to what will become the future of
the Watson Legacy as new trends emerge in funeral service delivery and new ways
of rendering funeral services evolve going forward.
Why Us?
In a nutshell? Experience, professionalism, compassion, and empathy.
We've learned a lot over many years. Like how to present options without overwhelming. And how to meet the needs of many caring parties. People come to us in difficult times, and we respond kindness, calmness and expertise. Our goal is to create a beautiful occasion and make you feel welcome, always. We spend our days planning with families. We stay up to date with industry developments. And we make hard times a little easier.
Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium was established years ago, and serving families has always been our focus. We take pride in being able to guide people through some of their most difficult days. We take pride in maintaining a setting that allows people to find solace. Celebrating life is our mission. That’s never changed. And with pride, it never will.
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Watson Funeral Home & Crematorium
