Spiritual woman, 102, has attended same Wildwood church for 80 years

WILDWOOD When Olive Watson joined Wildwood United Methodist Church, Franklin D. Roosevelt was in the early stages of his first term as president, America was in the throes of the Great Depression and the Lone Ranger was a major hit on the radio.

The year was 1934 and in the 80 years since Watson has been a devoted member of the rural Sumter County church, dedicating her life to serving the congregation wherever and whenever she was needed, including stints as president of the local and state chapters of the United Methodist Women.

At 102, Watson is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, active serving members of the 700 churches in the Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church.

"Eighty years is a rather long time to be serving," said John Bendall, business administrator of the denomination's North Central Florida District in Ocala, which includes the 323-member Wildwood church.

Recently, Watson received a commendation from the U.S. Senate recognizing the spry centenarian's long service to her beloved church. The congregation celebrated the occasion by having a special salute to Watson during worship services.

A modest Watson said she doesn't know why she was singled out for the recognition she is only doing the Lord's work in serving her church, she said.

"I've only done what was needed," said Watson, a widow who will turn 103 in August. "I never did anything spectacular."

Her fellow church members, including Annie Otto, wife of former church pastor the Rev. Thomas Otto, disagree wholeheartedly.

In her long tenure at the church, founded in 1892, Otto said, Watson has also served as a Sunday school teacher and in other lay positions as well as serving numerous times on the Pastor's Parish Relations Committee.

"She's the most spiritual lady I've ever known she never misses church services," said Otto, who wrote to Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Miami., asking him to acknowledge Watson's storied history with the church. "She's been a faithful servant to the Lord."

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Spiritual woman, 102, has attended same Wildwood church for 80 years