Obituary of Elder Watson L. Bellinger Sr.

A Time to Be Born

Watson, the 2nd oldest son to the union of Iva Bellinger, Sr. and Queen Victoria (Williams) Bellinger was born October 12, 1923 in Hampton County, SC in a small town-named Estill (located approx. 50 miles from Savannah GA). He had 4 brothers, Iva Bellinger, Charles Bellinger, Richmond Wilson, (all deceased) and Jesse E. Wilson, 2 sisters, Mattie (Bellinger) Bostick Housey and Mary Lee (Wilson) Copeland (both deceased).

A Time to Love

In Watson’s early 20’s, he traveled north from Estill to Washington, DC looking for better opportunities, especially hearing that his mother’s brother (Benjamin Williams) affectionately known as “Uncle Bennie” was a resident. After moving to DC, he later met the love of his life, Frontis (Gibson) of Saluda, South Carolina. On August 20, 1947, they united in holy matrimony and were husband and wife for 67 years until her death on January 10, 2014.

A Time to Serve

Watson was a firm doer in never being lazy, but working hard and serving the Lord. There were times when he held 3 to 4 jobs to support his family. He had a fervent spirit helping the needy. He held various jobs in the food industry, construction, many years at Peoples Drugs (a chain of drugstores based in the DMV area) working with his aunt the late Ruth (Demondee) Wilson along with her daughter-his cousin, Albertha (Williams) Cobb. He later served 25 years of service at Government Employees Insurance Company [GEICO] in Chevy Chase, MD. While at GEICO, he helped his wife and several of his children get jobs there. His love of God, integrity, hard work, and honesty spoke for itself. At GEICO, he was affectionately known as “Mr. B.” If Mr. B recommended you for employment, you were certain to be hired. There are a host of friends that will attest to his generosity. While still employed at GEICO, he created his own job after hours as a landscaper. He enjoyed gardening. One of his D.C. clients named a tree he planted in her yard as “Mr. B’s Tree” in honor of him. He was destined to be a great gardener (roots from his maternal grandmother: the late Mary Wilson Williams). After retirement from GEICO, he and his brother, the late Charles Bellinger, Sr. teamed together and expanded their businesses. Several years later as his strength weakened he made a decision to bless the landscaping business to his son, the late Robert Bellinger, Sr., which is now under the care of Elder Bellinger’s grandson, Marquette Bellinger.

A Time to Worship

Elder Bellinger was an avid singer (both quartet and hymns). There was never a time you wouldn’t hear him uplifting the Lord in songs and praises. He was not ashamed to let anyone know that he trusted in the Lord and where his faith resided. He was a “praying man.”
In the early 60’s, he and his family joined Highway Christian Church of Christ (Washington, DC), presiding pastor, Bishop Herman Ginwright. Under the leadership of his brother Charles-he and his brother Jesse encouraged their family to unite. Eventually it became the “family church” attended by the Bellingers, Bosticks, Cobbs, Montgomerys, Monroes and Wilsons. He was baptized in the name of Jesus Christ and accepted the Lord as his personal Savior. After a few years of being a Deacon, he was ordained ELDER then ASSISTANT PASTOR. He served dutifully and faithfully until his health failed, attending church sometimes even when he was ill.

In addition to his devotion at Highway, he also supported several Highway pastors including his nephew (Pastor Chester Bellinger) at Central Mission Union (Washington, DC), where the mission is to glorify God through proclaiming and teaching the gospel, leading people to Christ, and serving the needs of the homeless.

A Time to Rest

Early Thursday morning July 2, 2020 the Lord whispered to Elder Watson Bellinger - Timothy 4:7 “You fought the good fight, you finished the race, and you remained faithful.” Now it is time for you to rest in eternal peace.

A Time to Celebrate

Elder Watson Henry Lee Bellinger, Sr. leaves to celebrate his life and legacy: 1 brother Jesse Wilson (Maybell- deceased); children: William Brown (Winston-Salem, NC-preceded in death), Robert (preceded in death), Kathleen, Vivian, LaVerne, Mary Lynn (preceded in death), Watson Jr. (Angela), Brenda, Bernard, Frontis Marie

(Robert Boston, deceased), Michael, Sr.-preceded in death), Arnold (Thelma); 24 grandchildren, 40 great- grandchildren, daughter-in-laws: Doris Brown (son: William-deceased), Joanne Bellinger (son: Michael- deceased); sisters-in-laws: Sadie Bellinger (Charles, Sr.-deceased), Elizabeth Gallmon (James-deceased), Anna Mae White (Theodore-deceased), Ardena Wilson (Richmond Sr.-deceased), a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

* PLEASE NOTE: MASK ARE MANDATORY *