Obituary of Brenda Joyce Watt

Brenda Joyce Watt, age 82, of Wytheville, passed away on Sunday, December 15, 2024 at home. She was born to the late Carl C. Shepherd and Alice Caudell Shepherd in Grayson County near the little town of Fries, on the second floor of a crossroads country store. It was a snowy March 13, 1942, a Friday the 13th to be exact. She always kept the license plate “BJ 13” on her red Cadillac. Survivors include her husband of 24 years, Jimmy Lee Watt of the home; two daughters, Tracy Lynn Iddings of Roanoke, VA; Robin Renee Graham of Roanoke, VA; one sister, Diana Shepherd of Dublin; one brother, Steven C. Shepherd of Austinville; one granddaughter, Dylan Makay Copeland of Roanoke. Brenda enjoyed dancing the Texas 2-Step with her husband Jim, and teaching country Line-dancing to a class of 25 older country students in the Franklin County and Smith-Mountain Lake area. The group was called “The Gone Country Dancers” and danced on flatbed trailers in Christmas parades in Rocky Mount and Boones Mill plus retirement homes and community centers. She and Jim toured all of the lower 48 states on a Honda Gold Wing motorcycle. They road with the “Run-For-The-Wall” group twice to California and back to the wall in DC. They put over 100,000 miles on that Wing during their travels. Brenda was also a regular member of the St Paul United Methodist Church. She always sat in the balcony, so she could see everything and hear those tall organ pipes sing right in her ears. The balcony seats are level with the pipe outlets, and she got the very best sounds from our two concert class musicians Zella Dillon (Piano) and Brenda Wittwer (Organ). Brenda’s wishes were to be cremated, and a Memorial Service will be held at 11a.m. on Saturday, January 4, 2025 at St Paul United Methodist Church in Wytheville. The family will receive friends Saturday from 10 to 11 A.M. at the church. The service will conclude with a private ceremony where her ashes will be scattered over the family farm in Austinville. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the St Paul United Methodist Church General Fund at 330 Church Street, Wytheville, VA 24382. Online condolences can be sent to the family at wwwgrubbfuneralhome.com Grubb Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.