[5] A 1981 Fitzgerald Herald-Leader says that "a tribe of Oswichee Indians once lived near the Ocmulgee River on land known in 1818 as Irwin County."

It was called by the Indians Assile, next Aglie, Axilla, Agulu, Ochile, and lastly Ocilla."

The most popular theory is that Ocilla is named for Chief Osceola, who had a prominent role in the Second Seminole War.

Watson became famous for her Christmas cheer but eventually stopped due to the hassle of decorating and because of her older age.

Today, her tradition is somewhat carried on every year as the City of Ocilla now decorates Cumbee Park, the public park directly in front of Watson's former home, and holds a yearly session with Santa Claus.

VFW would eventually take over the track after the original owner, Marion "Buddy" Green, decided that its liabilities were too great.

The building still stands today across from the old Irwin County High School campus, albeit without its prominent porches.

A March 20, 1981 Fitzgerald Herald-Leader article said that at one time, fourteen passenger trains stopped in Ocilla each day.

While no tracks currently connect any industry or passenger service to Ocilla, the remnants of the "Iron Horses" that once whizzed through the area are still visible from track embankments in Irwinville, Georgia to the historical red caboose prominently overlooking Cumbee Park.

The 11 miles of track originally built by the Ocilla & Irwinville Railroad were abandoned in 1916 and later removed.

It also purchased a line between Broxton and Hazlehurst in 1905 and had started to absorb the Fitzgerald, Ocmulgee, and Red Bluff Railway.

According to the 1923 Poor's Manual, the Ocilla Southern Railroad wanted to connect Atlanta to Jacksonville, Florida but only ever covered a third of that distance.

[8] On March 25, 1911, the southbound Dixie Flyer running from Chicago, Illinois to Jacksonville, Florida crashed through a trestle over the Alapaha River, only a short distance from Ocilla.