Judge Watson L. White

Judge Watson Lawrence White, of Marietta, Georgia, passed away on Saturday December 13, 2014 at Tranquility at Kennesaw Mountain Hospice Care Center. Judge White served as a judge in Cobb County, Georgia for more than four decades and was a devoted husband, loving father and joyful grandfather. Born on January 1, 1921 in Carroll County, Georgia, to Walter and Lura White, Watson was a graduate of Douglas County High School. After high school he served in the United States Army during WWII, where he was assigned to an 95th Infantry Division, driving armored transport vehicles throughout France and Germany, including fighting in Patton’s Third Army during the Battle of the Bulge. Watson was honorably discharged from the Army in December 1945 and used the GI Bill to enroll at the University of Georgia in January 1946. He graduated from his beloved alma mater with a law degree in 1951. While at UGA, Watson was a member of the Gridiron Society, the Business Manager of the Red and Black Student Newspaper, President of the Demosthenian Society, Vice President of the Blue Key Honor Society, Member of the Student Union, and Secretary of the Grand Old Party of Non-Fraternal Men. Upon graduation Watson moved to Marietta, Georgia where he worked at Lockheed-Martin as a manager until he saved enough money to open his own law practice on the Marietta Square in 1955. He was first elected to Cobb County State Court in 1968 and sat as a judge in that court for 10 years. He was elected to Cobb County Superior Court in 1978, and was the Chief Judge of that court from 1985 until he stepped down in 1994. During that time he also served two years as the Administrative Judge of the Seventh Judicial Administrative District from 1988-1990. He then continued sitting on the bench as a Senior Judge in Cobb County Superior Court until his retirement at age 91, in October 2012. Judge White presided over numerous significant trials, established the first Divorcing Parents Seminar program in the country, and was awarded the Bobby Cleveland Professionalism Award by the Cobb County Bar Association in 1994. Judge White was a longtime member of the First United Methodist Church and was on the church’s Board of Trustees, the Board of Stewards, and was teacher of the Progressive Sunday School Class. Judge White was also active in the Jaycees and the Marietta Lyons Club. Watson is survived by his wife Nancy Rainey White, his children, Susan Griffin and her husband Don of Marietta, Ga., Daniel White and his wife Katie of Marietta, Ga., and his step-daughters, Elizabeth Hodges Weaver and her husband Dick, of Marietta, Ga. and Lea Hodges Hallab and her husband Safwan, of Southlake, Tex. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Thomas Marshbanks of Smyrna, Ga., Caroline Marshbanks of Marietta, Ga., Aaron Weaver of St. Louis, Mizz., Mark and Kyle Beckman of Marietta, Ga., Emma Hallab of Oklahoma City, Ok., Hannah and Jena Hallab of Southlake, Tex., Nan and Georgia Boone of Marietta, Ga., Kelly and Katie Griffin of Marietta, Ga., and Mary Evelyne, Maggie Beth, John Watson, Michelle Elsa and Jose Walter White, all of Marietta, Ga. Watson was also survived by his sisters Mildred Ann Ruffner, of Los Alamitos, Cal., and Kay Burns, of Cleveland, Tenn., and his brother Robert White, of Marietta, Ga., along with many beloved nieces, nephews and cousins. A visitation will be held on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Mayes-Ward-Dobbins Historic Marietta Chapel. A memorial service will be held at Marietta First United Methodist Church at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 17, 2014. A private graveside service will be held for family later that day. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to WellStar Community Hospice.

Judge Watson L. White

January 1, 1921 - December 13, 2014