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.

Clint Smith, Jr. 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 19, 2016, we will continue our series on organ transplants and donations. This weekend, we will hear a powerful story from Clint Smith, Jr., an Attorney and Activist from New Orleans, Louisiana who was recently featured in the New York Times. 

Clint Smith, at home in New Orleans, had a procedure that altered his immune system to allow his body to accept a kidney from an incompatible donor. It “changed my life,” he said.

Photo Credit: William Widmer for The New York Times

Mr. Smith will share his journey about being a transplant recipient not once but twice. He will discuss how being a transplant recipient was life changing. He uses his story to help promote awareness about the importance of donor registries and addressing the stigma in the communities of color about organ donations.

The Smith Family

In 2012, Mr. Smith received his second transplant from a living donor who was a close friend. Hear the circumstances that led to his friend, Judge David Watkins, giving Mr. Smith a second chance at living life to the fullest. We will also hear about the love and support of his family and their belief that "to whom much is given, much is required." Mr. Smith's story will not only educate listeners but inspire you to become more engaged and aware.

This is one interview you will want to listen to again and again!

  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 Clint Smith, Jr.
 

Mr. Smith being presented an award by his brother, Chief Master Sergent, Jeffery Smith, USAF for his steadfast support of his 30 plus year military career!

Mr. Smith, a 1982 Cum Laude graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. While at Morehouse, Mr. Smith was the President of Morehouse History Club, a Student Council Representative and a member of Omega Psi Phi fraternity. 

After graduating from Morehouse, Mr. Smith attended Tulane University School of Law and graduated in May 1987 with a J.D.. At Tulane, Mr. Smith was the 1987 Merit Award Recipient of the Law League of Louisiana Maurice Hirsch Award, an award that represents the most improved student for the three-year law school curriculum. He was also a member of the Black Law Students Association and President of the Public Interest Law Foundation.

Mr. Smith has had a luscious career in law beginning with an honored appointment as the Judicial Law Clerk for the now deceased civil rights pioneer and Chief Judge of the Civil District Court for the Parish of Orleans, Revius Ortique, Jr. As a law clerk, Mr. Smith was responsible for researching and preparing recommendations to Judge Ortique on exceptions and contradictory motions set before the court for hearing.
 

After his appointment with Judge Ortique, Jr., Mr. Smith joined the Bryan & Jupiter Law Firm. As an attorney with Bryan & Jupiter, Mr. Smith  practiced litigation in the areas of education/school law, commercial law, worker compensation and tort defense. Mr. Smith achieved partnership while with the firm.
 

After Bryan & Jupiter, Mr. Smith formed the Roby & Smith Law Firm with his Tulane classmate. Roby & Smith enjoyed a successful and full-service legal practice in the areas of litigation and small business practice for three years.

In July 2002, Mr. Smith accepted an opportunity as General Counsel for an emerging publicly traded company. As general counsel, Mr. Smith was responsible for coordinating the legal and human resources needs of the emerging public company. He also assisted in drafting and reviewing contracts, leases, and other legal documents.

Mr. Smith underwent his initial kidney transplant in 2004. His transplant altered and refocused his legal practice in the area of Wills, Successions (Probate) and Estate Planning. After the second transplant in 2012, Mr. Smith has returned to his Estate practice.

Mr. Smith has served as an Administrative Law Judge for the Aviation Board at the New Orleans Airport, Judge Ad Hoc for Juvenile District Court and Judge Pro Tempore for the Orleans Parish Traffic Court.

Mr. Smith is a former Board Member of New Orleans Audubon Commission; New Orleans Soccer Academy (NOSA), Boy Scout of America, Adult Volunteer; Girl Scouts of America, Adult Volunteer and current Board Member of Legacy Foundation (Organ Donor Awareness) and Louisiana Kidney Foundation. Mr. Smith is an active member of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Mr. Smith is also a mentor and speaker for the Silverback Society of New Orleans.

Mr. Smith is married to Sheryl Sutton Smith, MD, and has three adult children, Clint III, Jesse and Talmon. Mr. Smith and Sheryl live in New Orleans, LA. 

Photo Credits: Mr. Smith (Facebook) and NYTimes