Blanche Elizabeth Watson Chapman

Blanche Elizabeth Watson Chapman passed away at The Retreat in Loganville, Georgia, at the age of 93 on August 29, 2026.

She is survived by her daughter, Elizabeth Blanche Bailey (Scott); son Edward Burton Chapman (Cici); grandsons: Jeremy Chapman (Cassie), Zack Chapman, Christopher Bailey, and Ryan Chapman; siblings: Rev. Renfroe Watson Jr., Janette Watson Gray and Wanda Watson Fordham.

In addition to her husband Ray Chapman, Blanche was preceded in death by her sister, Betty Watson Pierson; and brothers, Samuel Fred Watson and William Maynard Watson.

Blanche was born October 20, 1932, in Forsyth, Georgia to Renfroe Edward Watson and Elizabeth Zellner Watson. She moved to Virginia with her parents during WWII where her father worked as a ship carpenter during the war. She later moved back to Forsyth and lived with her grandparents, Blanche Pryor Zellner and Andrew Maynard Zellner while her parents finished their stay in Virginia.

Blanche attended and graduated from Tift College in Forsyth and afterwards moved to Atlanta and worked at Muses Dept store. Later she worked at the Atlanta Journal Constitution under Grace Hartley in the cooking article section where she met her husband Ray Chapman. They were married in 1955 and were together for 70 years until Ray’s passing in 2025.

Blanche became a devoted housewife and loved cooking and gardening. She was a member of the UDC, the DAR and was a Dames of the Court of Honor.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, September 5, 2026 at Monroe County Memorial Chapel, 86 W Main St, Forsyth, Ga 31029, with burial to follow in the Forsyth City Cemetery. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service.

Please visit www.monroecountymemorialchapel.com to express your condolences.

Monroe County Memorial Chapel, 86 W. Main Street, Forsyth, GA 31029 has charge of the arrangements.