The Smiths and Watkins Families Updates

In the early years of social media, it was a tool used to share stories that were under reported in mainstream media. Now, social media is where mainstream media looks first for great stories, especially stories that uplift and motivate us. Our sisterhood had a social media encounter that was not only inspiring, but was informative and continues to give hope to the multitudes who are waiting to receive an organ transplant. Our social media inspiration gave the world a glimpse into the lives of two families who are truly living out the meaning of friendships for life!

Life long friends,  Sheryl Sutton Smith and Angela Watkins, are not only members of several civic organizations but they are also sorority sisters as well as Spellman College sisters. Their husbands, Clint Smith, Jr. and Judge David Watkins, are Morehouse Men.  All who love them know the depth of their friendship. But a post on social media made their friendship known around the world and help energized many registration drives during November and ignited hundreds to participate in Donor Sabbath. The media highlighted their friendships and how their collective impactful has change lives in their communities and beyond.

On March 9, 2016, The New York Times featured Clint Smith, Jr.  on the front page educating the world about a new transplant procedure that saved his life. The link to the story was posted on several social media pages and went viral throughout many national volunteer organizations within days. Mass media outlets picked up the story which led to thousands hearing for the first time from, Judge David Watkins, Clint’s donor. He shared his powerful story on Living Your Best Life Radio.

Judge David Watkins

Fueled by the number of shares on social media, several media outlets dug deeper into not only the history of the Smith-Watkins close bond but the importance of having advocates give testimony to life changing medical breakthrough in layman terms. The powerful interviews of the donor and the recipient also gave many families and close friends an opportunity to have open and honest conversations about organ donation, healthcare, and wellness. The collective interviews also revealed the power of faith in action.

The story of the Smith-Watkins families friendship has inspired our many to be proactive on social media sharing positive stories about organ donation. Since the first reporting of their story, there has been a steady increase in online sharing of organ donor-recipient relationships in the communities of color that engage, inform and educate readers around the world!

Since my initial writing about the Smith and Watkins families in 2016, there has been several weddings and grandchildren have joined the journey! Look at the power of love! Phil 1:3

After nearly two years of calls, emails, and texts, Clint, Jr. Genma, and Sheryl met for the first time in person in New Orleans on August 4, 2017.

 Photo credits: New York Times, FaceBook, and Genma Holmes

Judge David D. Watkins on Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes

Join Living Your Best Life with Genma Holmes as we profile organizations, leaders, and volunteers who lead by example. With extraordinary acts of kindness and charitable giving that help countless lives daily, these organizations, leaders, and volunteers  embody, "Be the change you want to see in the world."
 
On Saturday, March 26, 2016, we will continue to discuss the series on organ donations and transplants. We will be joined by the Honorable Judge David D. Watkins to hear him talk about making the decision, along with his wife, to donate his kidney to Clint Smith, Jr. in 2012. Clint Smith, Jr. was recently featured in the New York Times.

Clint Smith, Jr. Transplant Recipient

Judge Watkins will share how his faith was the catalyst to him waking up one morning and asking, "Why not? Why not me becoming Clint's donor?" Listen to Judge Watkins chronicle his journey to becoming an organ donor and how that journey made him intimately aware of the cultural notions in minority community that keeps more minorities, especially the Black community, on the wait list longer than other groups.

Judge Watkins and his wife, Angela, made the decision together to become donors. Both were tested and Judge Watkins decided to be go through the process first and if he was not a match then his wife would donate. Hear how two families who have known each for many years decided to make a life alternating gift that changed both families forever.

Tune in to hear all the amazing details. This show will empower, inspire, and motivate you to do more. Love more. Give more.  This show will also show you the power of faith in God and the belief in the mankind.

Living Your Best Life, a radio show that empowers, inspires, and motivates us to live our BEST life, is heard on 760AM The Gospel in the Middle-TN area, Tune In,  military bases and on Ustream.TV worldwide from 9:00-10:00am CST.

More About Judge David D. Watkins
 

Judge David D. Watkins, Kidney Donor

David D. Watkins is a Judge in the State Court of Augusta, Georgia and has served for 18 years.  Judge Watkins obtained his basic education in the public school of Glenn Hills High and graduated in 1977.  He attended Morehouse College in Atlanta and graduated with a B. A. degree in History.  He was accepted into Law School and received his law degree from the University of Georgia in 1986. Following Law School, Judge Watkins joined the United State Marine Corps where he served as an attorney from 1986-1990. After serving his country, Judge Watkins returned home and practiced law until 1997 when he was appointed a State Court Judge in Richmond County by then Governor Zell Miller.  The following year on July 21, 1998, voters, by an overwhelming majority, re-elected him to this position. Judge Watkins has been married for 34 years to Miss Angela Cumberlander-Watkins. They are the proud parents of two children, Daniel and Christina and the grandparents of twins (girl and boy), Mason Logan and Harper Elizabeth.