SPOKANE, Wash. — Happy Watkins, a Spokane reverend and pastor at New Hope Baptist Church, has passed away.
Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson said Watkins was "a Spokanite in heart and soul since 1961."
Wilkerson said in a Facebook post that the Brooklyn, New York, native, recited the "I Have a Dream" speech every year, and that he was also part of the founding board of The Fig Tree.
"My heartfelt condolences and prayers to his family and to his church on such a tragic loss for our community," Wilkerson said.
Wilkerson also said Watkins "served our community with a heart of gold."
Former City Council President Ben Stuckart also posted to Facebook, saying "What a meaningful life and such a good man."
In 2018, Watkins took a step back from preaching at New Hope so his son could take over as senior pastor.
KREM 2 sat down with Watkins a few years ago to talk about the mark he's left on the Spokane community.
"I want to do the best I can," Watkins said. "If I can help somebody along the way, then my living shall not be in vain."
Watkins was involved in the public schools and working with youth. He pushed for programs to get more African American students to graduate from high school and prepared for college. For many years, he helped organize the MLK Day parade and rally, and he often spoke at the events.
Watkins found a strong connection to the community through the church. Watkins grew up in the church and it has always been a place he found solace. He was a chaplain at Deaconess Medical Center and Holy Family Medical Center. And he served as an assistant pastor at Calvary Baptist. Watkins eventually went on to lead the New Hope Baptist Church in 1990.
Watkins touched countless lives for more than 60 years in Spokane.