‘A symbol of Spokane County belonging’: Local civil rights leader and pastor Happy Watkins dies at 82

Percy “Happy” Watkins, who co-founded Spokane’s annual march in honor of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and was a longtime civil rights activist in Spokane, died Friday. He was 82.

For decades, he was known for being the voice of King as he read King’s “I Have a Dream” speech each year at Spokane’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day march. The tradition of its annual reading began in 1971 – just three years after King’s assassination.

“It is with heavy hearts that we learn of the passing of Reverend Happy Watkins. Born in the Bronx but a Spokanean at heart and soul since 1961, he served our community with a heart of gold and helped us remember the words of Dr. King when he delivered his “I Have a Dream” speech every year, like clockwork. and at events throughout the year,” Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson wrote on Facebook.

Watkins was a longtime pastor of New Hope Baptist Church, leading the church from 1990 until his retirement in 2018. his close friend Ivan BushAnother prominent civil rights activist in Spokane, he organized the annual King’s March in Spokane for decades.

Watkins was born in the Bronx and came to Spokane in 1961 as an airman at Fairchild Air Force Base. In a 2018 profile, Watkins expressed confusion about Spokane’s comparatively rural and white background.

“I was 19 and a half years old and I started crying… (they told me) about bears, harsh winters. I was destroyed,” he recalled then.

However, Watkins found community in the church and soon called Spokane home.

During his more than 60 years in the city, Watkins worked as an insurance salesman, opened a barbecue restaurant, ran for City Council, led the local NAACP, married his wife, Etta, and raised four sons.

Spokane Superior Court Judge Brynn Beggs said Watkins always had an encouraging word for him. Beggs is the former director of the Spokane Justice Center, which focuses on civil rights issues.

“To me, Happy was a symbol of belonging to Spokane County. He exemplified that more than anyone I know,” said Beggs, a former Spokane City Council president. “He made Spokane a better place.”

Steve Corker, who served eight years on the Spokane City Council from 2008 to 2011, said Watkins was like a “surrogate father” to him.

“I’m going to miss him,” Corker said. “He was a kind, good man, and we need more people like him. He was willing to talk and wanted to bring people together, and we need more of that too.”

Corker and Watkins were active in Democratic politics in the 1970s, Corker said.

He said Watkins was his mentor at a time when Corker was in his 30s and relatively new to Spokane and politics.

“He was one of the kindest people I’ve ever met in the city of Spokane,” Corker said.

Watkins helped him understand minority issues early in his political career, and both worked on the campaign of James Chase, who was elected in 1981 as Spokane’s first black mayor.

Like many people, Corker fondly remembered Watkins’ recitation of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech.

“I just remember every time he gave that speech, there was some kind of revival of thoughts and affections,” Corker said.

Former Spokane Mayor David Condon, who served two terms in the 2010s, said Watkins came to his office countless times to discuss issues involving police-community relations, community centers and the black community.

Condon believed he first met Watkins at the dedication of Martin Luther King Jr. Drive, which runs past the University District and which Watkins championed.

“He is a titan in our community whose legacy will live on for generations to come,” Condon said.

Watkins was a longtime leader of the Spokane NAACP. Former chapter president Curtis Robinson said Watkins kept the organization as president when membership dwindled.

“He was there to keep the NAACP alive. And we need to do the same. His call to us is to pick up the baton. His legacy is to enable us to move forward,” he said.

Robinson said he saw Watkins just two weeks ago, and he was still the man who could move a crowd to tears with MLK Jr.’s words.

“I know Happy had a dream for us too,” he said.

Spokane Unitarian pastor and friend of Watkins Todd Eklof said Watkins was an “icon” who “served as a role model for all who knew him.” Before the 2012 marriage equality referendum, Watkins publicly spoke out in support of same-sex marriage. Eklof said the move surprised some, but it was just one example of his courage.

“Happy expressed his traditional faith in an unconventional way,” he said of the Baptist preacher. “He was happy. And he made everyone else happy.”

Jonathan Brant contributed to this report.