01/27/2021
Ray Watson was truly "Santa" to all of us at f/32 Photo and so many others for more than a decade. At the age of 88, he graduated to Heaven on Friday, January 22nd. There was a Celebration of Life service for him today at Central Baptist of Bearden. At the front of the church, they had pictures of him and his family throughout his life, his diplomas (he had multiple degrees in both undergrad and post graduate work), a couple of his softballs, and at the end of the table was his Santa suit, including hat, standing on a valet. That was what did me in.
There are times in life when you realize that you are part of something really special or in the presence of someone who is uniquely gifted. For many of you who brought your children to f/32 Photo to visit with Santa, I think you experienced this. That is a large part of the reason so many of you came back year after year. I have heard many stories of kids coming long after they stopped "believing" (I mean, if that's really a thing...I still believe, so I'm not sure about this). They wanted to come and see Ray as Santa as long as he was still here. He always told me that he wanted to be Santa as long as he could do it. He decided that 2019 would be his last year in Santa's chair, mainly because his knees were giving out on him. At 87 years old (with 47 of those years having been spent pitching fast-pitch softball), it was hard to argue with him on this point. It was not an easy decision for him.
He LOVED being Santa because he truly loved children. But honestly, he embodied the spirit of Santa all the time, not just when he was wearing the suit or in the studio. Even after I no longer photographed sessions, I would often work just outside the studio and I could hear all of the conversation and things taking place in the sessions, even if I couldn't see them. He would always ask the kids about school, what was their favorite subject, etc. I even heard him quiz a couple on some math problems! If the kids were old enough, he would have them read books to him during their session instead of the other way around. What you may not know is that Ray was a retired school teacher, principal, super intendent, and bi-vocational pastor. So, his love of children, education, and Jesus ran deep.
Some of my favorite memories were of him praying with a child who asked for her grandparent with failing health to get better and of the sessions he had with a special needs child who loved visiting with Santa more than anything else in the world. There are so many stories and ways that he touched people and influenced lives during his time on this Earth. Just a few of those stories are represented in the pictures in this video. This is just a small sample.
What a blessing to have been able to work with the REAL Santa (don't try to tell me that he wasn't) for over a decade. He was truly an incredible individual with a heart for children. I'm sure that he was greated on Friday with "Well done thou good and faithful servant."
So, untill we meet again Ray, Merry Christmas to you and to you a good night.
