Choice E. Watson, 85, of Lyman, died Jan. 2, 2018.

He was a graduate of Luther Rice Seminary and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. He was a U.S. Army and National Guard veteran.

Watson was a pastor for 25 years and served the following South Carolina churches: Lyman First Baptist (as associate pastor), Calvary Baptist in Lyman, Mitford Baptist in Great Falls, Bath First Baptist, Arcadia Baptist in Spartanburg, Wayside Baptist in Startex, and Mount Pleasant Baptist in Landrum. He also served for 10 years as director of missions for North Spartan Baptist Association.

He and his late wife, Grace Hinson Watson, were active in Baptist disaster relief work and also served as volunteers for the American Red Cross.

Watson was awarded the E.A. McDowell Award from the South Carolina Baptist Convention for exemplary Christian service. He also received the North American Mission Board Distinguished Service Award for volunteer ministry through disaster relief and the SCBC Disaster Relief Ministry Distinguished Service Award, which is named in honor of Choice and Grace Watson.

Shortly before his death, he donated his personal library of more than 1,200 books to North Greenville University.

Survivors include a daughter, three sons, 11 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.