By: Suzanne Lawler, Regional Communications Manager

In 1975, Gerald Ford was President of the United States, ‘Love Will Keep Us Together’ by Captain & Tennille was popular on the music charts, and a man named Sam Watkins became an American Red Cross volunteer.

It’s all relevant because, for over five decades, Watkins has played a role in some of the country's biggest news stories, and through the Red Cross, he has responded with compassion, care and grace. “If you need help, we will help. Period,” he said confidently, reflecting on his Red Cross career.

It’s a motto he’s lived by. His big heart and conviction to stand up for others were instilled by his mother at a young age. In 1965, she took a job as a librarian at a predominantly Black school in Camden, Arkansas, during the period of desegregation.

“I explained to her that it was dangerous and not a good idea at all, and she turned around and held up a wooden spoon. She said, ‘Samuel, this is the right thing to do. Period,’” Watkins recalled emotionally.

“She turned back around and continued to stir. She said everything that needed to be said. I’ve tried to live into that for the last 60 years.”

He found the Red Cross before Hurricane Eloise hit; at the time, he was working as a firefighter. “I thought I’ll help with the event and go on about my business,” he chuckled. “One thing led to another and then I was a disaster head for Lee County, Alabama.”

His career volunteering for the Red Cross has spanned over 50 years, working with the humanitarian organization in storms you may recognize, like Hurricane Katrina, Superstorm Sandy and countless other disasters. He has a notebook with certificates from his deployments; he’s left home to jump in and help people, so many times, he couldn’t give you a number. Stashed in a box, sit his vintage Red Cross jackets, pins and shirts which help to tell the story of a lifetime of service. But there is another symbol that Watkins wears every day as a reminder of some of the heartbreaking work he’s done over the years for the Red Cross. It’s a bright yellow square pin and it says ‘No Hate’.

In his forties, Watkins went to seminary school and became a minister. He came to Georgia to do his training. “I landed in Savannah in 1991,” he stated.

Spiritual care is part of the services the Red Cross offers after a disaster or tragic event. Individual disaster care volunteers in health, mental health and spiritual care provide support to individuals and families affected by disaster. The unique role of the Red Cross Disaster Spiritual Care volunteer is to assist people in drawing upon their own spiritual resources – values and faith – in the midst of their pain, regardless of their faith tradition.

Through the Red Cross, Watkins deployed to the Pulse Orlando mass shootings in 2016. A gunman killed 49 people at a gay nightclub on Latin Night. At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history. “Sometimes you just sit and listen,” Watkins said.

Two years later, his heart would break again as he deployed to the Parkland school shootings, where a gunman shot and killed 17 students. It affected him deeply. “I visited the homes of murdered children,” he said somberly. “You visit with people just to say you're not alone and I care and we all care.”

When Watkins spoke the words, he meant it. Seven years later, in his home in Savannah, a simple piece of paper hangs prominently on his wall. It says 17, representing the 17 victims from Parkland. “It’s so I never forget and work every day to ensure it never happens again,” he said with tears in his eyes.

The man with the caring spirit and easy smile doesn’t meet strangers, and he says he’s given out 500 ‘No Hate’ pins. He’s happy to do it. “I’m certain that there are things as life goes on that we can do to impact the future of the world we know in some small degree,” he said confidently. “And in the case of mass murders, anything that generates out of hate, we can be active and have some part to play in what happens the next year or the year after or five or 10 years from now.”

He feels his work with the Red Cross aligned perfectly with his quest to work for good. “It’s not who you are, it’s not where you are, it’s not how popular this is. There is no other agenda. If help is needed, our role is to help and the Red Cross has been doing that for a century and a half and with God’s grace, we will always be there for that, so it’s an incredible undertaking to be a little part of it.”

Watkins has retired from deploying; his vision has started to fail, but he’s still doing everything he can to help his fellow man through the Red Cross, giving platelets every chance he can.

If you ask about his memories, the 79-year-old gets quiet. “I remember the faces and the voices,” he whispered. “I didn’t do anything remarkable, but I think somehow in some way I made something a little better for people.”

And just like that, as Captain & Tennille’s song says, “Look in my heart and let love keep us together,” you might say it’s Watkins’ motto: love, compassion and a simple desire to help others — a Red Cross mission that has lasted more than 50 years.

How to Volunteer

Volunteers make up around 90% of the Red Cross workforce. People like Sam Watkins are how the organization prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies. If you are interested in volunteering your time and talent to make a real difference, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.