Carole Marietta Chapman - Watson
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Carole's obituary
Carole M. Watson, a lifelong champion of community empowerment, social equity, and educational access, transitioned peacefully on June 1, 2025, at the age of 80.
Born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on August 3rd, 1944, to Frances Webb and Herman Chapman. Carole quickly moved and was raised in Detroit; Carole's deep commitment to justice and opportunity was rooted early.
Carole married Donald Watson in 1970. On Valentine's Day in 1975, they gave birth to their only child, Dionne Watson, in Nashville. Upon the passing of Donald, Carole and Dionne moved to Oakland, California, where Carole opened the Urban League division. Her career in social work and nonprofit leadership spanned decades and took her across the country—from teaching in Tennessee to directing community programs in Oakland, CA.
Carole retired in 2011 as Chief Community Investment Officer at United Way of the Bay Area (UWBA) after 35 years of service in nonprofit management. At UWBA, she managed a $10 million portfolio and helped design award-winning programs like the Earn It! Keep It! Save It! Campaign, which returned nearly $275 million in refunds to working families. She was a visionary behind the nationally recognized SparkPoint Centers, which still serve communities today.
Before UWBA, she held key roles, including President and CEO of the Bay Area Urban League, Vice President of the Nashville Urban League, and instructor at both Tennessee State University and the University of Tennessee. She was admired for her strategic mind, her mentorship, and her unwavering focus on equity.
Carole held a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Science from Western Michigan University. She was a proud graduate of the Urban League’s Executive Development Program and a fellow of Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
Even in retirement, she remained active—leading the board of the Emiliano Zapata Street Academy in Oakland, supporting SparkPoints, and serving on national nonprofit advisory boards.
Carole is survived by her devoted daughter, her beloved granddaughter, extended family, and a host of mentees and colleagues who continue to be guided by her light.
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