On Tuesday, October 22, 2024, Cora Adelaide Watkins passed away peacefully at the age of 73 at the HopeHealth Hulitar Hospice Center. Cora was born in Providence and was the daughter of the late Charlotte “Rosie” (Hazard) Watkins and the late Russell E. Watkins.
Cora was a graduate of Hope High School. She obtained her bachelor’s degree from the University of Rhode Island and a master’s degree from Atlanta University, now Clark Atlanta University. Cora attended Columbia University and worked towards her PhD in Education. She was deeply interested in education and serving the community. Upon receiving her master’s degree, she taught business education in Providence Public Schools and later worked for the New York State Department of Education while working on her PhD. After an illness, Cora returned to Rhode Island where she was able to teach business education for some years.
Cora was a wonderful sister, aunt, daughter, cousin, friend and mentor. She supported and was supported by family and friends and was engaged in the community when possible. In NYC while pursuing her education, Cora lived in a brownstone apartment in Harlem so she could be close to African American culture. Cora was quiet but strong, determined and oftentimes adventurous. She moved to Atlanta on her own and later to New York City and then to Albany, NY. She wanted to visit countries in Africa and traveled there solo. She later traveled to countries in Europe with a friend.
When Cora attended URI in 1969, African American students made up less than 1% of the student body. Nonetheless Cora became an assistant editor at the student newspaper Black Gold. She was also one of URI’s first African American cheerleaders as an undergraduate. Later in her career Cora was selected as the first African American consultant for the Long Island NY school department to help create diversity in the schools’ curricula and to diversify the student body. Cora was always committed to others. She was a reader of current events. She will always be known for her kindness and beautiful smile.
She leaves behind a family who loved her deeply, include her brother Russell E. Watkins and his wife Barbara, James H. Watkins, and Roger A. Watkins, two sisters, Dhana L. Watkins Whiteing, and Sandra M. Powell and her husband Wennzdehl. She was the sister of the late Kenneth J. Watkins, and Beverly A. Watkins. Cora leaves behind numerous nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, cousins and friends.
The wake will begin on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at 10:00 am in the Russell J. Boyle & Son Funeral Home, 331 Smith Street, Providence. A funeral service will begin at 12:00 noon in the funeral home. Burial will be at North Burial Ground in Providence. For online condolences, visit boyleandsonfuneralhome.com
