Bishop Robert Daniel Watts

Bishop Robert D. Watts Bishop Robert Daniel Watts is the firstborn son of Daniel Carey Watts and Maime Davis Watts. He was born in Beloit, Alabama on August 29, 1932. Both of his parents died while he was still a young boy. His maternal grandparents, Robert and Texanna Davis in Selma, Alabama, raised him and his siblings. His siblings included brothers Winfred B. Watts, Sr., Willie A. Watts, sisters Eunice Watts and Willietta Watts Reed. All his younger siblings are now deceased. Bishop Watts attended Dallas County Elementary School, R.B. Hudson High School and graduated from Crispus Attucks High School. He received a Bachelor in Theology degree from Central Theological Seminary on May 18, 1993. Bishop Watts entered the United States Air Force on July 12, 1952. He was united in matrimony to Lillian M. Pack on December 20, 1955. Two daughters were born to this union, Elder Wanda K. Watts and Terri L. Watts Christopher. Terri is married to Arthur S. Christopher. Bishop and Mother Watts have one granddaughter, Sinclair Shaniece Christopher. Bishop Watts was honorably discharged from the Air Force on July 11, 1956. After his discharge from the Air Force, Bishop ...[more]

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ts began working at Navistar (formerly called International Harvester). He retired from Navistar after 31 years of service. Bishop Watts accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior as a young boy. He was baptized by his paternal grandfather, Reverend T. J. Watts, pastor of Hopewell Baptist Church, Beloit, Alabama and Shiloh Baptist Church, Orrville, Alabama. Bishop Watts was an active member of Hopewell Baptist Church while he resided in Beloit, Alabama. Upon arriving in Indianapolis, he attended New Liberty Baptist Church for a short time subsequent to establishing his membership at First Free Will Baptist Church. He joined First Free Will Baptist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana in July 1961. While he was an active member at First Free Will Baptist Church, Bishop Watts worked in the following capacities:  Trustee Board Chairman  Deacon  Sunday School Ministry Teacher  Church Bus Driver  League Ministry Teacher  Christian Education Department Teacher  Male Chorus Member  Senior Choir Member  Church Delegate to the Terre Haute District Conference, the Kentucky Annual Conference, and the Western Division of General Conference In August 1979, Bishop Watts accepted the call to the ministry. Upon ordination, he became an associate minister at First Free Will Baptist Church. In January 1982 he was installed as the pastor at Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church. Bishop Watts was the pastor of Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church for 31 years, retiring from active shepherding on August 25, 2013. Bishop Watts began regularly attending the Terre Haute District Conference in 1974. Over the last 40 years, Bishop Watts held several offices in the district conference. He was the first vice moderator, Executive Board Chairman, Ecclesiastical Council member and a member of the Finance Committee. In 1979, Bishop Watts began attending the Kentucky Annual Conference and the Western Division of General Conference. In 1995, Bishop Watts was elected to the position of Kentucky Annual Conference Moderator. On October 6, 1995 he was elevated to the office of bishop in an ordination ceremony held in Sedalia, Missouri. Bishop Watts served as the bishop of the Kentucky Annual Conference until June 2006. Bishop Watts was elected to the office of First Vice Bishop of the Western Division of General Conference on October 10, 2003. He served two (2) consecutive three-year terms in that capacity. Bishop Watts served diligently along side General Bishop Raymond Captville. Additionally, Bishop Watts attended the National Convention of Free Will Baptists U.S.A. in his capacity as an officer of the General Conference. Then in October 2009, Bishop Watts decided to decline the nomination to serve another term. Bishop Watts was still asked by General Bishop Captville, from time to time, to complete particular assignments in his capacity as a Senior Bishop. In June 2011, General Bishop Captville presented Bishop Watts with an award recognizing his service to the Western Division of General Conference. In Titus 1:7-9, the Apostle Paul described the characteristics of a bishop or overseer as, 1:7 [A] bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre: 1:8 But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just holy, temperate: 1:9 Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers. Bishop Watts had been a dedicated shepherd to the Mt. Calvary Free Will Baptist Church flock for 31 years. In the capacity of an overseer, he had been an exceptional leader. He was a man of great faith, good character, godly wisdom, filled with the Holy Spirit and firmly rooted in the word of God. Bishop Watts was a devoted husband and faithful father and grandfather. Awards and Acknowledgments:  Indiana Distinguished Hoosier Award bestowed by Honorable Governor Frank O’Bannon in 1998.  Hosted the Free Will Baptist National Conference, 1998. Bishop Watts is survived by his loving wife, Lillian M. Watts, his daughters, Elder Wanda Watts, Terri Christopher and Son-in-law Arthur Christopher, granddaughter Sinclair S. Christopher, Sister-in-laws Joanna Callen and Lula J. Watts, Brother-in-law, Charles E. (Barbara) Sheppard, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and loving family members and friends.