Viva Dean Alligood Watson | Eastern NC Now

    Viva Dean Alligood Watson, age 83, a resident of Washington, died Tuesday, December 23, 2025, at her home.

    Funeral services will be held on Sunday, December 28, 2025, at 2:00 PM at Emmanuel Free Will Baptist Church with Pastor Robert Travis officiating. Burial will follow in Pamlico Memorial Gardens. David Woolard, Jr., Ronnie Godley, Ron Black, Ray Thompson, Kenny Watson, and Tommy Shea will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers are Tony Alligood, Greg Walston and Donald Alligood, Jr.

    The family will receive friends on Saturday, December 27, 2025, at Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM, and other times at the home.

    Viva was born on September 6, 1942, in Beaufort County to the late James Daniel Alligood and Ruth Asby Alligood. She was a 1960 graduate of Washington High School. On February 23, 1962, she married Franklin Roosevelt Watson. Viva retired from Tidewater Equipment Company as office and accounting manager. She loved flowers and gardening; she always loved helping and doing things for other people. She loved her grandchildren. She and Franklin used to enjoy riding motorcycles and traveling. Viva loved to cook and do crafts. She was a member of Emmanuel Free Will Baptist Church and the Old Ford Ruritan Club Ladies Auxiliary. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her brothers, Ronald, Donald, and Harold Alligood.

    Survivors include her husband, Franklin Roosevelt Watson of the home, her children, Jeanne Watson Woolard (David E. Sr.) of Washington and Dean Watson (Tiffany Godley) of Chocowinity, brother, Melvin Alligood of Chocowinity, sisters, Kay Latham of Washington, Faye Alligood of Washington, Linda Alligood of Washington and Sandie Alligood of Chocowinity, grandchildren, Kelsey Faulkner, Kristin Ramirez, Sarah Yaeger, David Woolard, Jr., Amanda Lawerence, Mark Godley, Jr., Michael Godley and Matthew Godley, great-grandchild, Emilia Dean Yaeger.

    The family would like to give special thanks to the following caregivers, who helped look after Viva during her illness, Taniesha Smith, Diane Laws, Dasijia Green, Jennifer Hopkins, Sylvia Windley, Kalonda Harvey, and Shelia Lassiter.

    Memorial contributions may be made to Emmanuel Free Will Baptist Church, 1600 Highland Drive, Washington, NC 27889.

    Paul Funeral Home & Crematory of Washington is honored to serve the Watson family.