George Howard Watkins Sr.

Born on April 17, 1951, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, George was the son of Thelma

Mae and Shelley Jane Watkins. He was proudly named after his uncle and Godfather, a

Buffalo Soldier who served in the U.S. Army’s 92nd Buffalo Infantry Division and the 317th Combat Engineer Battalion. While born in Philly, George was raised in Whitesboro, New Jersey, as part of a vibrant and large family of 14 siblings. It was there, working on his grandparents’ farm, that George first rooted his tireless work ethicand love for the land.

A standout athlete at Middle Township High School, George was "all sport," excelling in

basketball, baseball, and football. His passion for community began early as a managerat the Whitesboro Recreation Center, where he mentored local youth and taught tennis lessons. After a short run studying engineering at the University of Milwaukee, George moved to Detroit, Michigan, to begin his lifelong career. George spent 38 years mastering his trade, culminating in a distinguished career as an Ironworker Foreman/Journeymam at Iron Workers Local 25. His hands helped raise the iconic Detroit

Renaissance Center, Cobo Hall, and Eastern Michigan University. In a poignant full

circle, his labor also helped build Henry Ford West Bloomfield Hospital, the very place where he was cared for in his final days. George’s love for creating led him to start his own home and commercial restoration company, and his meticulous eye for beauty was

always on display in his landscaping and his care for his neighborhood.

George never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone. To know him was to know a man of many titles and even more stories. Whether he was being

called Porgie, Ghost, Son of Wild Man, Daddy Pops, Poppa, or King George, he carried

each name with pride. To some, he was the dapper Gorgeous George; to others, he

was Smooth G....on the Ones and Twos, a nod to his effortless style and love for the rhythm of life. In 1979, George married Mary Louise Watkins. Although they later divorced, their union was a significant chapter of his life. George was a man of deep faith and service; he

was a devoted member of Pure Word Missionary Baptist Church, where he led the

security team and served in the pantry ministry.

George loved to laugh, crack jokes, and challenge friends to a game of chess. He was

well-traveled and had a famous affinity for cars—most notably his 1969 Gold FleetwoodnCadillac. In retirement, he visited his favorite Coney Island daily, where the staff knew his order by heart. Above all, George loved to cook and grill; he fed everyone, and no one ever left his presence hungry.

A devoted father, George’s greatest pride was his family. He deeply loved his children

and was known for his selfless nature; he was the kind of man who would give them his

very last to ensure they were cared for.

When George’s health declined in late November 2018, he beat the odds with the same grit he used to defy gravity on the high steel, proving that while his body was weary, the

foundation of his character remained indestructible.

George is now reunited with his mother, Thelma; his father, Shelley Sr.; and his brothers Oley, William, Bernard, and Gerald Watkins. His legacy of love lives on through his children: Dwight Wilson, George Watkins Jr.,

Crystal Watkins, and Kelly Watkins. He was a proud grandfather to Quasherra Jackson, Mikeya Wilson, and Jackson Wilson, and a doting great-grandfather to Ahmavi Mimsband Le`Mari Bader. He is also survived by his former wife, Mary Louise Watkins, and a large family including his siblings: Shelley Watkins, Ahmad Nurriddin, Kallaad Cepada, Vincent (Deborah) Watkins, Harold (Sheila) Watkins, Shirlene Watkins, Darryl Watkins, Brenda Watkins, Sha’ron Lynn, and Michael Watkins, along with a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews.

George has set his final beam and hung his belt. His work on earth is finished, but the

foundations he laid will stand forever.

"For every house is built by someone, but God is the builder of everything." -Hebrews 3:4