Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council Honors the Legacy of Trailblazer Connia Watson Jr.

Charlotte, NC, September 11, 2020 --(PR.com)-- Connia Henry Watson Jr. (84) of Durham, North Carolina, was born in Charlotte, N.C. on Jan. 1, 1936, and died on Aug. 25, 2020. During a long and notable career, he served on the Durham Board of Adjustments and chaired the board for six years. He also served on the boards of the Urban Ministry Center and the Greater Durham Black Chamber of Commerce; and for many years, he operated as president of the North Carolina Mutual Retiree Club. He also was a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc.

A fervent supporter of his community, Watson was a long-time, active member of Covenant Presbyterian Church in Durham. At Covenant, he sang in three choirs, served as chairman of the Budget/Finance Committee, and he very proudly served as one of the mentors for youth in a neighboring community to the church. In addition, his service to the church extended to the broader Presbytery body where he served as commissioner to the Presbyterian General Assembly.

Watson spent his primary and secondary school years in Salisbury, N.C. He graduated from Price High School where he was an excellent academic student and performed very well athletically – becoming one of the “Four Horseman” running backs on the school’s state champion football team. He also was an inductee in the high school’s athletic Hall of Fame. Post high school, Watson became a 1957 graduate of North Carolina College at Durham (now North Carolina Central University) with a degree in Chemistry. After college, he began his career working in Washington, D.C., and then New York City, before returning to North Carolina and starting his life’s work with the North Carolina Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Watson demonstrated a strong acumen for this business early and quickly earned increasing positions of responsibility, as he was awarded district “Manager of the Year” in 1967. While progressing in his career, he prepared for and achieved the Chartered Life Underwriter (CLU) designation. Watson ultimately became the company’s Vice President, Agency Director and served in that capacity until his retirement in 1990.

Watson was a devoted husband, father, brother, grandfather, great-grandfather and uncle. He was preceded in death by his parents Connia H. Watson Sr. and Mabel S. Watson; and his son-in-law Myles K. Hudson. Watson is survived by his wife, the former Zelphia Gray; his children, Cheryl W. Hudson, Gregory A. Watson and Gena Watson (daughter-in-law); sibling, Odell Watson and Annette O. Watson (sister-in-law) – along with a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends whom he loved dearly. In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to Covenant Presbyterian Church Men’s Council Mentoring Program, located at 2620 Weaver Street, Durham, N.C. 27707.

About CVMSDC:
Gregory Watson (son of Connia Watson Jr.) serves as Director of Corporate Services for CVMSDC. The Carolinas-Virginia Minority Supplier Development Council is one of 23 regional affiliate councils of the National Minority Supplier Development Council (NMSDC). The Council is a membership organization of major corporations, financial institutions, government agencies and universities that operate within North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia. The Carolinas-Virginia MSDC is a non-profit corporation chartered to enhance business opportunities for minority-owned companies by providing support through developing mutually beneficial networking opportunities with corporate members and promoting minority business development.