The late pastor emeritus and Rev. Percy Happy Watkins, Jr. was memorialized at Life Center Church on Friday, Nov. 15. The local civil rights and faith leader was honored by many who partnered with him throughout the decades. Known for his work to establish the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center. Throughout the years, Watkins challenged the school district and the police department to make changes in support of equity, representation, and justice. He co-founded the annual MLK March, which began in 1989.
Community tributes came from retired Superintendent of District 81, Gary Livingston; president of Gonzaga Preparatory School Michael Dougherty, Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown; the executive director of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center, Freda Gandy; and NAACP Spokane President Lisa Gardner.
Livingston recalled how Watkins often said, that “it is always right to do the right thing” and shared how Watkins would never hesitate to question some of his decision making, unafraid to raise concerns when needed.
Watkins was an endeared mentor to Gandy whose tearful reflection signified the strength of his impact on the leader she has been over the very organization that he helped to create. She shared her early beginnings.
“Happy is responsible for the leader I am today,” Gandy said. “He took me under his wing, shared his knowledge, his wisdom, his time, his talents with me.”
Remembering her rough transition when coming to Spokane from Mississippi, Gandy recalled when Watkins told her that she was going to be the executive director of the center when she worked and volunteered there during her college years. She was doubtful, and in hindsight reflected how Watkins believed in her when she didn’t even believe in herself.
Before reading the NAACP resolution, Gardner shared that, as a one who was a child of the community, Watkins and the late Ivan Bush, were heavy weights who sowed seeds into the youth of Spokane, particularly the East Central community.
“Not just that they were our leaders, they were our family,” Gardner said. “They were our uncles, they were our daddies, they were our cousins; they were the men that we looked up to.”
She reflected on how, when they walked into the center, kids would stand up straight, out of respect.
As three of Watkins’ grandsons joked about being their grandma’s favorite, Elijah Watkins, in his remarks, solemnly shared that his grandfather was his first best friend.
“He always knew how to make me laugh and could turn any moment into a comedy show,” Elijah Watkins said. “It doesn’t feel real sometimes. I still think he is going to call me at a random time of the day … I wish I could get that call just one more time.”
The Celebration of Life ended with a powerful eulogy delivered by Watkin’s son and current pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, James Watkins, who dared everyone in the room to learn from his father’s life and legacy to “dream ridiculous dreams.”
Leading his closing James Watkins said: “I thank you today and I leave each of you with, when you begin to contemplate the issues of today, don’t try to put chess pieces on a board, because you’re not smart enough, you’re not wise enough, you’re not good enough to be on God’s chess board. That guy, right there who lays in that casket, dreamed ridiculous dreams. This young boy from the Bronx who was the oldest of 10, whose daddy died when he was 15 years old, who was left in the projects of New York, couldn’t even fathom raising to the heights he had been to, but he dreamed ridiculous dreams.
“When the city was opposed to MLK Way, he said he had a God who made a way, he dreamed ridiculous dreams … not because he thought he was so good, but because he thought He was so good.”
James Watkins pointed up and ended his father’s life celebration with a standing ovation and passionate cheers from those in attendance.