Samuel M.
Samuel M. Merriweather Watkins, Jr.
d. February 22, 2014
Sam graduated from Henderson High School in 1952 and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1956.He served in the U. S. Army from 1956 until 1958.He was President of Rose Oil Company, and was a member and chair of the Economic Development Commission in Vance County where he served for thirty-three years, and on the Maria Parham Hospital Board of Trustee for twenty-two years.He co-founded the Henderson Downtown Development Corporation from which the North Carolina Main Street Program evolved.In 2008 he andhis brother were the recipients of the Community Hero Award given by the Vance County Commissioners for making the community a better place to live.He was the recipient of the Order of the Long Leaf Pine and in 1985 he was Vance Countys Outstanding Citizens of the Year.He headed United Way campaigns, and was active with establishing the Vance Rec. Dept. and facilities for Vance County youth, and was co-founder of the Vance County Fellowship of Christian Athletes.He was a former member of the Salvation Army Advisory Board, member of the Citizens Bank and Trust Company Board, and a chairman of the NCNB Board in Henderson. Over the past decade Mr. Watkins proudest accomplishment was the forming of the Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, and building a new public library and Cultural Center in Henderson.The library was dedicated in 2007 and the cultural center will be completed in 2014.Sam was a member and Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Henderson and attended the First Baptist Church.Mr. Watkins was a tireless advocate for his community and its people.He will be deeply missed by all.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday at 11 am at First Baptist Church by Dr. Ronald S. Cava and Dr. Marion D. Lark.Burial will follow in Elmwood Cemetery.
He is survived by his wife, Gloria Smith Watkins of the home; two daughters, Charisse Watkins Lassiter and husband Steve and Dee Watkins Moss and husband Paul all of Henderson; one son, Samuel M. Trey Watkins, III and wife Sarah of Wake Forest; one step-daughter, Gina Grissom Johnson and husband Paul of Newnan, GA; two step-sons, George M. Mel Grissom of Lexington, KY, and Gavin M. Grissom of Chesapeake, VA; his twin brother, George Rose Watkins, Sr. and wife Chickie of Henderson; his half-sister, Faye Watkins Tyree and husband, James Earl of Richmond, VA; four grandchildren, William Paul Moss, II, Curtis S. Lassiter, II, Sawyer Watkins, and Jesse Watkins; and three step grandchildren, Alex Johnson, Toby Johnson, and Luke Johnson.
The family will receive friends Monday from 4 until 8 pm at the home at 2106 Woodland Road.
Serving as active pall bearers will be Donald Seifert, John Wester, Cornell Floyd, Robert Gill Young, Jr., Jimmy Brafford, Raymond Bartholomew, Jackie Ellis, Bill Edwards, Bill Mast, and John Zollicoffer.
Serving as honorary pall bearers will be all employees of Rose Oil Company.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Embassy Cultural Center Foundation, P.O. Box 769, Henderson, NC27536.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Samuel M. Merriweather Watkins, Jr., please visit our flower store.
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