John Holman Watson, 88, a long-time businessman and Dothan resident, passed away to be with his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on Thursday, April 30, 2026, at a local hospital surrounded by his loving family.
Celebration of Life services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at Evergreen Presbyterian Church with Reverend Christine W. Herrin officiating and Glover Funeral Home of Dothan directing. Visitation will be held from 2:00 until 4:00 p.m., Monday, May 4, 2026, at Evergreen Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Evergreen Presbyterian Church, 1103 N. Pontiac Avenue, Dothan, AL 36303, or Southeast Health Foundation – Neuro Balance Center Parkinsons Program, 1922 Fairview Avenue, Dothan, AL 36301.
John was born February 12, 1938, to Absolom and Mary Outlaw Watson in Skipperville, a rural Dale County community where hard work wasn’t a virtue so much as a necessity. Friends from those days called him by his middle name, Holman, and still tell stories of a boy who walked to school barefoot because his family couldn’t afford shoes. Whether every detail has grown with the retelling, the meaning has not: Watson never forgot where he came from. As a teenager, Watson worked whatever jobs were available — delivering ice, doing carpentry, roofing — then graduated a year early from Newton High School in 1955. He dreamed of playing college football and becoming an engineer. A promising running back, he turned down a scholarship offer from the University of Alabama and chose Auburn University, where he studied mechanical engineering. He hoped to make the football team as a walk-on.
The first in his family to attend college, Watson became a co-op student, working at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville and with the Corps of Engineers at Fort Rucker. He participated in advanced ROTC and graduated from Auburn in 1960 with a degree in mechanical engineering. That same year, he married Gail Pearson of Ozark and entered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as a second lieutenant. He served on active duty in 1961 and 1962 during the Berlin Crisis. When his service ended, Watson and his wife returned to Dothan, where he took a job with Smith’s Inc., then the area’s largest mechanical contracting firm.
In 1966, he and two other employees bought an interest in Smith’s Inc. from James M. Smith. Four years later, they purchased the rest of the firm, aided by financing provided by Smith himself. Watson considered growing the company into a regional or national powerhouse. Instead, he made a choice that reflected both business instinct and personal priorities: he would diversify, protect against the economy’s swings, and stay close enough to home to be present for family. The experience of building Smith’s alongside trusted partners also shaped his approach to business for decades — he sought ventures with people he liked, respected, and believed added real value.
Over time, Watson became connected to a wide portfolio of enterprises. Among them were Engineered Systems, Inc., a general contracting and design firm focused on negotiated projects and design/build work for shopping centers, office buildings, warehouses and industrial facilities. In 1998, Engineered Systems worked with Auburn University to design and build the Auburn Indoor Football Practice Facility.
Those ventures, people said, were never just about profit. Watson’s greatest asset was the ability to evaluate risk and reward — and when he believed something could work, to bring in friends and partners, spreading opportunity as widely as possible. He was often described as selfless, soft-spoken and deeply concerned for others. That concern extended beyond the marketplace and into the community’s institutions. Watson served as a trustee and elder at Evergreen Presbyterian Church and served on boards including Houston Academy, the Dothan Boys Club, the Alabama Research Institute and Alabama Industrial Relations. He was named the 1996 President’s Council Volunteer of the Year for the Alabama Institute for the Deaf and Blind and served on the institute’s board. He chaired the Dothan Area Chamber of Commerce in 1988 and was a graduate of Leadership Alabama. In 1998, he received Troy State University Dothan’s Community Service Award. John also received several Paul Harris Fellow awards through the Rotary Club.
He is preceded in death by his parents; his two brothers, Franklin D. Roosevelt Watson, and James Lamar Watson.
He is survived by his wife of almost 66 years, Gail Pearson Watson of Dothan; his daughter, Abby Jo Watson Downs (Jed) of Dothan; his son, John “Ron” Ronney Watson (Leslie) of Dothan; his loving twin sisters, Mary Andrews of Pinckard, and Martha Pate (Blann) of Newton; his six grandchildren, Watson Downs (Kendall) of Dothan, Mary Grace Downs O’Connor (Tate), James Downs of Fort Worth, TX, Sara Watson of Redding, CA, Hanna Watson of Sarasota, FL, and Rachel Watson of Dothan; his seven great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
Serving as pallbearers will be Bobby Boone, Mark Chambers, Hayne Hollis, Jim Kelly, Jim Knighton, Wayne Palmer, Tom Parks, Dwan Pilcher, Felton Woodham.
Glover Funeral Home and Crematory has been entrusted with the arrangements. (334) 699-3888.
’Public Service Announcement – Asher HaVon, Winner of The Voice, Leading Local District 2 Parade
This is a public service announcement from The Ordinary People Society.
Get ready, Dothan! On Saturday, May 2, 2026, from 11 AM to 2 PM in District 2, Beginning at New Beginning Church. The Ordinary People Society will host the TOPS People’s Parade, a powerful May Day celebration honoring the culture, work, and spirit of our people.
This year’s parade will feature Asher HaVon, winning vocalist from The Voice, serving as one of our grand marshals and lifting up the sound of hope and inspiration.
Clergy from across the region will lead the front line, including local community pastor Dr. Kenneth Sharpton-Glasgow, joined by Dr. Byron Clay, former president of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC); Commissioner Phillippe Kirksey of District 2; James Bush, 2nd Vice President of The New National Christian Leadership Movement; local activist and leader Rochester Johnson Jr., son of Senior Rochester Johnson; Mississippi State Representative Kathy Sykes; and a host of other community and national leaders.
Following the parade, we will have a community gathering, where Asher HaVon will deliver a live performance as we continue to uplift and inspire the city.
We are still accepting participants for the parade—bands, organizations, churches, and businesses are needed and welcome to join us.
This is a call for all people of faith, conscience, and goodwill to stand together for unity, justice, and a stronger Dothan.
Continue celebrating with us into the evening as we honor The Ordinary People Society’s 25th Anniversary at the TOPS Founder’s Unity Day Banquet at 7:00 PM, located at 805 N Lena Street, Dothan, AL 36303. Our keynote speaker will be LaTosha Brown of Black Voters Matter (BVM), and Trey Merritt, vocalist and artist, will deliver a powerful performance, along with our special guest Asher HaVon, winner of The Voice.
Tickets for the banquet can be found at Eventbrite.com or by calling 334-671-2882.
Bring your church, your youth group, your social club, your family, and your friends as we march, sing, and stand together for unity, justice, and community power.
For more information about the TOPS People’s Parade or to sign up to participate, call
334-671-2882 or 334-547-1763.
That’s Saturday, May 2, 2026, 11 AM to 2 PM in District 2, and 7 PM at 805 N Lena Street in Dothan.
The TOPS People’s Parade—where the culture, power, and spirit of the people take the streets, and the celebration continues into the night.
DALE COUNTY: This past Tuesday Alabama State House of Representatives Member Steve Clouse and Marcus Parramore presented to Mrs. Brandy Olson and her daughter a resolution.
The resolution was passed by the Alabama House of Representatives tin the 2026 session honoring the Late Wally Olson, retired Dale County Sheriff. Elected in 2007 after the retirement of long time Dale County Sheriff Bryant Mixon, Sheriff Wally Olson served 16 years as Dale County Sheriff. He was dedicated to the citizens and guests of Dale County. He retired in 2023 and passed the reins to Mason Bynum who currently serves as Dale County Sheriff.
Wally Olson loved his family, Brandy Stafford Olson; two daughters, Emma Claire Olson and Ellie Grace Olson; his parents, Gary and Alice Bludsworth Olson; his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Mack and Sheila Casey Stafford. He really loved his wife and two daughters who were the apples of his eye. And his parents, always taking his mother’s phone call no matter where he was at.
Sheriff Mason Bynum said “Sheriff Wally Olson wasn’t just a sheriff he was a steady hand, a mentor, and a servant to this community. He led with integrity, humility and with a genuine heart for people. And whether you knew him for a season or for a lifetime, you walked away better because of him.”
Today we also wish a heavenly HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Sheriff Wally Olson. For today, April 30th, is Wally Olson’s Birthday.
HOUSTON COUNTY: The Houston County Repulican Party had their regular monthly meeting tonight in the Houston County Commission Chambers.
A full house to hear some statewide candidates speak. A lot of local candidates were on hand tonight to shake hands and mill around talking with everyone.
Tonight’s guest speakers were Pat Bishop, candidate for Alabama Lt. Governor, Joshua McKee – candidate for U.S. House of Representatives; Jay Mitchell – Candidate for Alabama Attorney General, James Rcihardson – Candidate for U.S. House of Representatives; Priscilla Andrews – candidate for Alabama Public Servicec Commission Place 2.
TUESDAY, MAY 5TH, DOORS OPEN AT 5 PM for meet and greet
EVENT BEGINS AT 5:45 PM Republican Party Candidate Forum. FREE and open to the public.
Held at The Forum, 231 West Main Street in Dothan.
DALE COUNTY: Dale County Sheriff Mason Bynum, the youngest Sheriff in the State of Alabama, holds his annual Youth Fishing Day.
Since becoming Sheriff, Bynum has worked with Dale Medical Center and the Alabama Games and Fish and hosted a youth fishing day in the pond in front of one of the hospitals/medical treatment places on Highway 231. Joining Sheriff Bynum are the men and women in the Sheriff Department, Ozark-Dale County 911, Alabama Game and Fish and others. The youth come out for some food, fun and time fishing. A great time of interaction with law enforcement and giving the youth a day of fishing. The pond is stocked with the help of the Alabama Game and Fish.
A great day of fun and excitement for the youth and adults helping them.
CAMPBELLTON FL: Motorist traveling along Highway 231 South, as they cross the Alabama – Florida line from Houston County into Jackson County they have seen Ford Explorers with LAW ENFORCEMENT on the side.
The law enforcement vehicles are with the Florida Department of Agriculture. Building equipment and steel are being brought in at the Florida Welcome Center where the Florida Department of Agriculture are constructing an inspection station and possibly weigh station for trucks hauling agriculture products. The station is expected to be operating some time in November 2026.
