Curtis Watkins

June 19, 1941 – January 23, 2022

Today, we celebrate the wonderful, rich and amazing life, love, and legacy of our beloved CURTIS WATKINS.

Curtis was born as Preston George Johnson to Lillian Johnson, in Shreveport, LA, on Thursday, June 19, 1941. Lillian married Concie Watkins Sr., a member of the U.S. Armed Forces, who passionately loved and adopted her son Preston, giving him his father’s name, Curtis Watkins. Their family moved north and settled in Detroit, MI.

At the young age of five, Curtis and his brother, Concie Jr., were moved to Indianapolis, IN where they were affectionately raised by their uncle and aunt, the Reverend Henry & Missionary Maxine Jones. Through the nurturing love and care of the Jones’, Curtis and his brother were inspired to be great young men, first loving the Lord with all their hearts and with an eagerness to perfect everything they put their hands to. Being raised in the Jones’ household along with their brother-cousins Alonzo & Walter Gunn, the trajectory of their lives changed.

Curtis was a very gifted and talented young man and his aunt and uncle helped cultivate each one of those gifts by pouring their love for Christ, family, and others directly into his soul.

Curtis became an excellent down home soul food cook and handyman. There was nothing Curtis couldn’t repair- (according to him)!

Curtis’ parents, brother, aunt, and uncle preceded him in death.

Curtis accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at Bethel Tabernacle Apostolic Church at an early age, under the leadership of District Elder Owen Q. Young Sr. There, Curtis’s passion for serving God’s people developed.

He sang in the Indianapolis Pentecostal Mass Choir, and he later became an Ordained Minister, astute in the Word of God. There was absolutely no scripture, he could not expound upon.

Curtis received his primary education from Indianapolis Public School #26. He graduated from Arsenal Technical High School in 1960, where he ran on the school’s track team and participated in ROTC.

Curtis served in the United States Army from 1960 to 1963 where he was honorably discharged. Curtis was stationed and served in both Mannheim, Germany and Junction City, KS. It is there where he fathered his son, Jeffrey, with whom he recently met for the first time after searching for 58 years.

Curtis married his childhood sweetheart, Anna Louise Milam on July 10, 1965. Two children were born from this union: Curtricia (Trish) and Delana (DeeDee). Curtis was blessed with two additional daughters, Josetta and Kimberly.

His first grandchild named him “PepPep”. This name not only follows him to this very day, but it is indicative to who he was, with keeping a “Pep in his Step”.

He later married, the late Claudia Robey in 1984. To this union is where Curtis gaining three bonus daughters, Linda, Denise, and Tonya, whom he loved as his own.

For over 65 years Curtis and his best friend, the late Owen Q. Young Jr., were avid chess players and duet singers. Seeing those two together was delightful and quite entertaining.

His sincere love for music was displayed through his beautiful vocal abilities.

He was also an album collector of some of Gospel’s greatest artists. His passion for the arts included Acting and Play-Writing.

Curtis was a machinist for over twenty years, working for Union Carbide, Naval Avionics Indianapolis, and Western Electric.

In his early 40s, Curtis attended and graduated from Martin University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Counseling and Biblical Studies.

He later worked as an Addictions Counselor for the Salvation Army Harbor Light Center, where he received an array of awards, certificates of recognition, honors, accolades, and interviews for his outstanding service. His last years of service and work for the Indianapolis community was with Indiana University - Clarion Healthcare Homeless Initiative.

Our family and close friends will forever cherish his witty sense of humor, songs and inside jokes -

“How ya feeling PepPep?

His response: “With My Hands”

“What’s for dinner PepPep?

His response: “Fried Pig Ears, Stewed Tomatoes On Light Bread” “The Booger Song” • “Who Let That Frog in Here” • “Give Me A Bite” • “Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke it”, just to name a few…

It goes without saying, Curtis, lived a rich and abundant life. He lived according to his own will and way. He made wise decisions, he made mistakes, he loved hard without conditions, he personally housed the homeless, he regularly fed the hungry, he always looked for someone’s way of escape. He imparted wisdom to those who had an ear to hear, he looked for hope in seemingly hopeless situations. His attention was always to those in need. He helped others to believe in themselves.

While hospitalized, and on a ventilator, Curtis was making sure living arrangements were made for a loved one. He gave and he gave, and he gave of himself. If you didn’t personally receive any of these attributes of Curtis, believe us when we say, “He Believed in His Heart, that YOU were going to be OKAY”.

Curtis left us late Sunday evening, January 23, 2022, at the age of 80 years, 7 months and 4 days.

Curtis leaves to cherish his many memories, his 8 children: Son, Jeffrey E. Arterberry, Daughters, Curtricia L. (John) Jackson, Delana N. Watkins, Josetta A. (Thomas) Domino, Kimberly L. Watkins, Linda R. and Denise L. Robey, Tonya I. M. Watkins, Brother-Cousin, Walter Gunn, 15 grandchildren, 6 great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins, dear friend Linda Wilson, a host of other family members, friends and colleagues.

Rest Well PepPep!

Weeping may endure for a night, but Joy comes in the morning - Psalm 30:5

Always Remember This: Love Never Dies!

A visitation for Curtis will be held Monday, January 31, 2022 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Crown Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery, 700 W. 38th St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46208, followed by a celebration of life from 12:00 PM to 1:15 PM.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.crownhill.org for the Watkins family.