‘Mom’ Celebrates Her 99th Birthday

Floretta “Mom” Watkins, born April 24th 1907 celebrated her 99th birthday this past week. Floretta has lived with her family in St. Albans since the 1950s. She has worked for the city since then in various capacities including as an employee of the Dept. of Sanitation .and the Dept. of Social Services. She also worked for former Queens Borough President Claire Shulman.
Watkins was an activist for senior citizens and a Community Board member both in St. Albans with Community Board 12 and then in Laurelton with Community Board 13. She was also a member of a Democratic Club in Queens and Brooklyn.
Her daughter, Juanita Watkins was originally a schoolteacher, but became involved with politics through her involvement with her mother’s democratic club. She was elected City Councilwoman of the 31st council district in 1991.
Over the years, Floretta mentored many of the local leaders. She was friends with Congressman Gregory Meeks’ late mother and Assemblyman William Scarborough’s late mom, both of whom attended her birthday celebration. She goes back many years with all the elected leaders, including Archie Spigner, Dora Young and Helen Marshall. She has been honored many times, with a Congressional Award from Congressman Meeks, a special award from Andrew Stein at City Hall for her activities on behalf of senior citizens, and both Assembly and State awards.
She attributes her longevity to both her faith and her genes. Her mother lived to be 93. She has been a member of St. James Episcopal Church in Jamaica for over 45 years.