Edna Earl Watson Wilbourne's Obituary
Edna Earl Watson was born on July 18th 1930 in Malvern, Arkansas. Edna was the eldest twin of 12 children born to Birthon Watson and Edna Mae ( Mitchell ) Watson. Birthon was the 11th of 16 while Edna Mae was 3rd of 5 living out of 14 born to Cassie Mitchell and Amanda (Anderson) Mitchell of Arkansas. Birthon’s parents were Woodley and Caroline Watson of Mer Rouge, Louisiana.
As a child, life in Arkansas was good. Edna enjoyed an adventurous childhood, spending lots of time playing with her siblings Bobby Louis and Doris Stein in their two story Fairview house purchased by their father and going to the corner candy store that her Uncle George Anderson owned. It was there that Uncle George would spoil her with sweet candies of the day. She was very much loved and appreciated by her parents and family.
Although life was good for young Edna, she suffered a traumatic accident that would impact her entire life. She mistakenly consumed a cup of lye thinking it was sugar. This life threatening incident caused emotional trauma and permanent damage to her internal organs. God heard and honored the prayers of the saints and family members and through his grace, Edna’s life was spared. For this reason, Edna has always held God and Family with the highest regard.
Born with a spiritual veil, Edna willingly gave her life to Jesus Christ at the age of 5. She realized early, that a calling had been placed on her life. She would often travel with her father to play the piano and sing for churches throughout Arkansas. Her light shined for the glory and honor of God.
As an adolescent Edna would travel alone by train from Malvern to El Dorado, Arkansas where she was met by her Grandmother Amanda, affectionately called Momma or Aunt Ernistine also known as Auntie. Her mother would pack her lunch and pin a note with instructions and emergency contact information on her. Edna was beautifully dressed for her trips. She fondly recalled those early trips, expressing pride in her early independence.
Now a family of 10, the Watsons migrated from down South out West to Northern California. Planting roots in Oakland, which was the final stop on the cross country train route. Initially landing in West Oakland before moving to 310 Oakland Avenue. Edna attended Clawson Elementary and later graduated from Oakland Technical High. She would often share the story of how she refused to attend the high school in her district and insisted on going to Oakland Tech. Somehow Mother Watson worked it out and Edna’s desires were met once again.
As a young woman Edna had many good times with her family in Oakland as members of True Holiness COGIC in the Oakland suburb of Russell City. True Holiness was Pastored by her father Birthon. Under his leadership, a new sanctuary was built that served as a center of Pentecostal worship in Northern California. This church was physically uprooted and relocated to 9941 D street in Deep East Oakland. Here Edna along with her sisters continued playing music, singing and developing a musical foundation that would lead to local appearances, national tours and a recording contract with Vee-Jay records, the largest Black Owned record label of the day. The Watson Sisters through the Northern California State Youth Choir would go on to establish a long-lasting singing career that included, among other accomplishments, the introduction of the timeless hit Oh Happy Day, later popularized by the Edwin Hawkins Singers.
Before this however, her life would change as her father sent her to Los Angeles to support her sister Marion and her three small children. From the trips within Arkansas and across the country, Edna was very comfortable traveling alone to support family members. Already living in Los Angeles, were her grandmother Momma Mitchell, Aunt Ernastine Henson, Uncle Freeman Mitchell, Aunt Thelma Mitchell (Page) and Aunt Dorthy Mitchell, who had all relocated directly from Arkansas years earlier. After a few summers in Los Angeles, Edna returned to Oakland.
Upon returning to the Bay Area, Edna began to evangelise and speak on the goodness of God to anyone that would listen. Later in life as a seasoned Evangelist, she would hold revivals spreading the gospel and attracting souls to Christ.
In 1956 a big moment in Edna’s life was when she met Hiram Wilbourne at the wedding party of her sister Doris Stein and Hiram's brother Edward Leon Wilbourne Sr. A year later in 1957, Edna and Hiram were married and Edna moved to Los Angeles permanently. Their blessed union lasted unbroken for 69 marvelous years, until Hiram's death in 2023. Both longtime LA residents passed peacefully in their residence.
During her married life in Los Angeles, she was a dedicated member of Emmanuel C.O.G.I.C. under the spiritual leadership of Bishop Samuel Crouch and later Elder Mardis, currently pastored by Bishop Uleses C. Henderson. She was a licensed Evangelist and when the spirit hit, she would jump out of her seat and give God a Holy Ghost dance. She was passionate about her faith and never played church.
Outside of church, she was employed as a day care teacher mentoring, encouraging and pouring love into our young citizens. She was remembered for sharing wisdom and helping to develop proper morals and ethics in the youth. She was beloved by all the children and staff.
Edna spent her life being a living witness for Christ. On the morning of Thursday March 26th, 2026, God decided to call Edna home. She passed pain free quietly under the watchful care of her nephew, TW Williams. She was 95.
Edna was preceded in death by parents Birthon Watson and Edna Mitchell Watson, husband Hiram Wilbourne, brother Bobby Watson, sisters Betty Watson, Marion Watson Davis, Macletus “Cledie” Watson, Constance Watson Carter and Doris Watson Wilbourne. She is survived by her brother Pastor James Watson and sisters Mary Watson, Shirley Watson Lam, Rosita Cynthia Watson, god children Sharraine Jackson, Melvin Earl Davis Sr., Melanie Boyland and Steven Harrison, favorite niece Kendis Wilbourne, a sister in law, two brother in laws and a host of cousins, nieces and nephews. She would always tell everyone, “Don’t Stop Praying”.
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