Watson Funeral Home is located in beautiful Millsboro, Delaware and serves the surrounding areas of Sussex County. A full-service funeral home in business since 1830, Watson Funeral Home is characterized by the care and commitment we provide to the families we serve. Our traditions have been in place since the beginning and we are proud that you have chosen us to help you in your time of need. Our dedicated staff will listen to your concerns carefully, and clearly explain all your memorialization options to assist in creating a truly unique tribute for your loved one. *** The History of Watson Funeral Home T oday the Watson Funeral Home serves about 200 families per year, and is one of the well known and respected funeral homes serving lower Delaware and parts of the surrounding Maryland counties. It all began a long, long time ago, back in the 1820's when Paynter Frame Watson married Anna Moor and they went into a multi-faceted business located in Centerville, Delaware (Now called Roxana, Delaware). It was Paynter F. Watson Carriage Sales, Harness and Tack , Furniture Making , Casket Making and Undertaking. In those days, there were many duties to be undertaken in holding a wake at a home, and funeral in a church-hence the term Undertaker was born. One of the Watson family members living today has a death certificate signed by Paynter F. Watson dated 1830, and this is the date we recognize today as the start of Watson Funeral Home, though unofficially, it could have been as early as 1828. Paynter and Anna had one son, Henry, before she tragically died at a young age. Paynter and his young son worked together in the business when Henry became of age. Henry went on to distinguish himself serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, and took a bride, Ceclia, and fathered many children. In the later 1800's, Henry moved the business to Selbyville in order to be near the Railroad Station there. He fathered many children, and his sons Young Henry, P.F. Watson, Medford, Clayton, Adolfus and Pasher Washington Watson, Sr. all went into the business as undertakers, and the business could not support that many men so they fanned out and started new locations, located in Selbyville, Frankford, and Seaford, Delaware. Young Henry pioneered new designs of burial vaults founded Watson Vault Company winning patents on his designs and eventually moved to Pocomoke, Maryland and started a funeral home in that city as well. Pasher Washington Watson, Sr., grandson of Old Henry married his wife Mary, and continued operation of the Henry Watson & Sons Funeral Home in Selbyville until he was killed in the line of duty while making a removal from Delaware Hospital during Christmas, 1936. He was hit by a drunk driver who careened up on the sidewalk hitting Mr. Watson and the removal cot. Mr. Watson struggled to live for a few days, but ultimately succumbed to his injuries. His son Pashur Washington Watson,Jr. and his wife Alberta had to carry on the business, now entering the third generation. During the era of Pashur, Jr. and Alberta many changes occured through the 1940's, 50's and 60's. Significant to the current Watson Funeral Home was the birth of Richard T. Watson, who entered the business and married Carol Givens and the two carried on with operation of the Selbyville location, and soon was to enter into a union with another firm in Sussex County. In 1943, Ronald and Gladys James took the amazingly risky move of purchasing an exquisite home on main street of Millsboro, Delaware to start a funeral home. World War II was on full tilt, there was rationing, and shortage of materials of every kind. Ronald and Gladys endured years of struggle and hardship to make a go of the funeral home, working other jobs to support the meager beginning. By 1949, Ronald was prospering enough to give back to the community. He worked with war veterans returning home to start an ambulance service, and he bought the first