SPOKANE, Wash – The Spokane community lost an icon this week as friends announced the death of pastor and community leader Happy Watkins.
Spokane City Council President Betsy Wilkerson shared the news on Facebook Friday.
Rev. Watkins served for years as pastor of New Hope Baptist Church. He was a fixture in Spokane.
For years, he recited Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a dream” speech at community celebrations.
Spokane’s FAVs News reported Friday that Watkins was originally from the Bronx and moved to Spokane in 1961 while serving in the Air Force.
The news organization called him a champion of family values and racial reconciliation.
Wilkerson said Watkins served the community “with a heart of gold.”
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