Clara Beatrice Watson Miles

Funeral services for Clara Beatrice Watson Miles, of Grambling, will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Grambling.

Visitation will be held from 7 - 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 11, 2020, at the church. She passed on Jan. 3, 2020 in Dallas.

Clara was the eighth child of ten born to Willie and Susie Gaines Watson on Sept. 9, 1931, in Pineville, LA. Her mother, Susie, passed away when she was 5 years old and she was raised by her maternal grandmother, Lucie Gains, and her father.

She attended high school at St. James Catholic School in Alexandria where she was an honor student and basketball star. She loved music and her passion was singing where she served faithfully in her church and school choirs.

After high school graduation, Clara attended Leland College to study math, which was another passion of hers. While at Leland, she met and married the love of her life, Earnest Edward Miles, on June 10, 1951. To this union four children were born — Wanda Jean, Earnest Edward II, Rita Pearl and John Robert.

Clara worked at Grambling State University McCall Dinning Hall Cafeteria for 40-plus years and retired in 2010.

Clara was preceded in death by three of her children (John, Wanda, Earnest II) and her husband of 65 years, Earnest. She leaves behind to love and cherish her life daughter Rita (Rodney) Billups; daughter-in-law Donna Sheri Miles; grandchildren Bridget Billups, Ashley Billups, Earnest Miles III, Kimberley Miles and Chelsea Billups; sister Ruby Wallace and a host of family and friends.

Interment will be in Grambling Memorial Garden.