The former Detroit City Council member, Reverend Dr. JoAnn Watson, was laid to rest in a service on Saturday July 22, 2023 at the Fellowship Chapel in Detroit. The event was not just a farewell, but a recognition of her decades-long career in public service that extended from the Detroit City Council to international roles at the United Nations.
Watson, the first female director of the Detroit NAACP, was also a pastor at West Side Community Church and a pivotal figure in Detroit’s reparations movement. She notably served on the city’s first Reparations Task Force prior to her passing on Monday.
With a commitment to public service from 2003 to 2013, Watson’s tenure on the City Council was marked by her fierce advocacy for water and human rights. Beyond local government, Watson worked as a public liaison for the late Congressman John Conyers, Jr., fostering strong community bonds through her role as host of the “Wake Up Detroit!” radio and television programs.
Her loss is deeply felt, as reflected in the mix of music and mourning at her funeral, as attendees acknowledged the far-reaching impact of a woman who served her community with great dedication.
Photo credit: Monica Morgan Photography
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