Kelvin Bradley Mr. Watkins

ROCKINGHAM - Mr. Kelvin Bradley Watkins, 44, of Chicago, IL and formerly of Rockingham, died Saturday, April 19, 2014 at Northshore University Hospital Evanston in Evanston, IL. Funeral services will be 1:00pm Saturday, May 3, 2014 at Mt. Zion United Church of Christ with Rev. Dian Griffin Jackson officiating. Interment will follow in Bear Branch Cemetery. The family will greet friends for 30 minutes prior to the service at the church on Saturday. He was born July 30, 1969 in Richmond County, NC a son of Annie Delilah Watkins and Lacy Jackson and was reared by his grandparents, Annie Louise Watkins Covington Hornes and Vertis Covington, Sr. Kelvin was a long-time member of Mt. Zion United Church of Christ in Rockingham and was active in the music program at the church. It was his heritage at Mt. Zion that instilled in him a great love for the message of God found in gospel music. A 1987 graduate of Richmond Senior High School, he was active in many school activities including, a cheer leader, member of the chorus, student government and other clubs and school associations. He attended Methodist College in Fayetteville and Coastal Carolina College in South Carolina. He lived for several years in Raleigh, NC where he was a member of St. John's MCC and was active in the ministries of the church and most notably as the director of the gospel choir, The Voices of St. John's. It was while working with the choir; they were invited to sing for a conference in Canada. Following a successful life in Raleigh, he moved to Chicago, IL and was very involved in pageant systems across the United States. He was a consultant and trainer in the entertainment industry and theatrical performance. Through his involvement in working with others, many were able to achieve goals and leadership positions. Many lives were changed for the good by his influence. Many of his clients and colleagues were recipients of various awards and titles largely because if his influence and training. Surviving are his grandmother, whom he affectionately called 'Mother Dear', Louise Hornes of Rockingham, NC; his mother, Annie Deliah Watkins of Rockingham, NC; his father and step-mother, Lacy and Annie Jackson of Rockingham, NC; his brothers, Anthony Watkins, DeMarlin Jackson and Demery Jackson all of Rockingham, NC , Dario (Vanya) Jackson of Columbia, MD and Derrick (Henrietta) Jackson of Harrisburg, NC; his sister, Sharell (Reginald) McClenton of Garner, NC; 6 nephews; 4 nieces; and 1 great-niece. Also surviving are his uncle, John E. Watkins of Rockingham, NC; his aunts, Ruth (Eddie) Brown and Lula Moore both of Pikesville, MD, Naomi Jackson of Winston-Salem, NC, Alda (Mike) Ewing of Candor, NC and Christine(Thad) Jones of Pinebluff, NC; great-great-uncle and aunts, J.C. and Ruth Watkins of Rockingham and Annie Jane Garvin of Sharon Hill, PA and a host of other relatives and loving friends. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Vertis Covington, Sr. and by his brother, Vertis Covington, Jr. There are also memorial services planned for May 31, 2014 in both Raleigh, NC and Chicago, IL. The arrangements are in care of Leavitt Funeral Home, Wadesboro, NC. Online condolences may be made at www.leavittfuneralhomewadesboro.com