Nollner and T. Ashby (Smokie) Watts, III

Nollner and Smokie Watts grew up in Lynchburg and have known each other since their days in junior high school when they fell in love.  They married in 1959.  At the time, Nollner, with a degree from Salem College in Winston Salem, North Carolina, served as a case worker with Lynchburg Social Services.  Smokie had graduated from Hampden-Sydney College in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, and was employed for two years by the Psychology Department at Central Virginia Training Center in Madison Heights, Virginia.  He served in the Virginia National Guard for six years.

In 1959, Smokie began a 26-year career in banking starting as a trainee with Lynchburg’s Peoples National Bank, which later became a part of First and Merchants Bank.  Over the years he strengthened his banking knowledge through special courses at The Darden School, University of Virginia, and Rutgers University.  First and Merchants Bank joined with Virginia National Bank in 1983 to form Sovran Bank.  Smokie retired two years later holding the position of Regional Senior Vice-President.

Nollner worked as a social worker and full-time manager of the Watts household and mother to three children.  Son Ashby and wife Merrill live in Lynchburg and another son Landon and wife Laura reside in Raleigh, North Carolina.  Daughter Kent and husband Phil LeBoutillier live in Hope Town, Bahamas.   The Watts have five grandchildren.

Smokie has provided service to Lynchburg organizations and activities in a variety of ways.  During his working years this primarily took the form of membership and accompanying responsibilities on boards of cooperative and nonprofit organizations.  With retirement he was appointed volunteer chairman of the Lynchburg Expressway Appearance Fund (LEAF), a position Smokie held for 20 years. A unique expressway beautification program it involved the partnership of the City of Lynchburg and its citizens.  Under Smokie’s leadership its success resulted in the Commonwealth of Virginia, in 2004, adopting the program for the entire state.     

Other interests for Smokie included working with a group of volunteers maintaining and repairing Virginia Baptist Hospital’s wheelchairs.  Currently, he belongs to the Lynchburg Rotary Club and is president of Spring Hill Cemetery.

Both Smokie and Nollner volunteered for many years with Meals on Wheels. Nollner is a member of the Lynchburg Garden Club.  Both belong to Oakwood Country Club and St. John’s Episcopal Church.

Nollner spends her spare time reading, playing bridge, and following sports.  Most of all she values being with her children and grandchildren.  Smokie, as a watercolor artist, has taken many courses over the years and has offered watercolor classes at Westminster Canterbury.  He also enjoys woodworking, boating, fishing, and photography.