Vanderbilt L. Watson Jr. was born on May 19th, 1930 to the late Vanderbilt Watson Sr. and Louise Cox in Memphis, Tennessee where he grew up on a farm. He was the second of five siblings: Evelyn Watson, Maxine Hicks, Helen Jones, and Edward Bey Watson.

After graduating from Woodstock High School he joined the United States Army. After his honorable discharge as a war veteran, Vanderbilt met and eventually married June Edwards on September 19th, 1953. They later relocated to Cleveland, Ohio looking for better job opportunities. In Cleveland, they began their family and it expanded to nine children: Vanderbilt, Valencia, Valerie, Vincent, Veda, Vicki, Vernon, Vanessa and Virgil. He was a dedicated, devoted, loving husband and father with a heart of gold. The family would pile up in the station wagon for yearly trips to the amusement and water parks, zoo, sea world, county and state fairs. There were also everyone’s birthday celebrations that always included his wife’s favorite strawberry cassata cake from Baraona’s Bakery.

He worked hard as a metal finisher for over 40 years until he retired. He ministered and taught Sunday school. He also believed in D.I.Y and fixed everything from cars to working on the plumbing. He shared his passion for fishing, hunting and gardening with his family and friends. He had the best garden on 124th Street that took up the whole backyard. He was so frustrated with the groundhogs eating and destroying his vegetables that he would sit in a chair guarding his garden with a BB gun to scare them off, only to fall asleep. His family and anyone that came in contact with him knew him as a great man; he made everyone feel special and so loved.

Vanderbilt Watson Jr. was preceded in death by his siblings Evelyn Watson, Helen Jones, and Edward Bey Watson; his children, Veda Black and Vernon Watson, and his grandchildren Lakenya Pinkard and Bruce Malik Adams.

He leaves to cherish his memories with his loving wife June Watson of 71 years; their children, Vanderbilt Watson III, Valencia Pinkard, Valerie Mitchell, Vincent Watson, Vicki Watson, Vanessa Rachells, and Virgil Watson (Stacy); grandchildren: Darla, Dewey III (Sherita), Lakisha, Vanasha, Marché, Jamar (Alyse), Brandon, Landon, Bryan (Samantha), Darren, Valencia, Laquoya, Valissa, Carina, Kadal, Angelo, Virgil Jr.; Great-grandchildren Donté, Dewey IV, Tylan, Brennen, Savannah, Dominic, Jaden, Serenity, Braden, Brandon Jr., Kadem Jr., Ariana, Logan, Vasiah, Mikaiyah, Aviyah, and Trayson. He also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews and extended family and friends.