Brian T. Watkins

Brian Troy Watkins, 63, aka “BW Freight Train”, of Battle Creek, died Friday February 16. 2024, at home.

Mr. Watkins the son of Floyd and Katie (Williams) Watkins, was born November 4, 1960 in Battle Creek, Michigan.  He attended the Battle Creek Public Schools and graduated from Battle Creek Central with the Class of 1978.  He was a member of Battle Creek Central Basketball Junior Varsity and Varsity Teams.  He later attended Kellogg Community College.

He was employed by the Battle Creek Schools as a Para-Pro at several Elementary Schools.  He was co-owner of BW’s Party Store for many years and a Delivery Salesman for Quality House Beverages, formerly the Battle Creek Beer Company. He was a member of the YMCA Mens Fitness Center for many years. He served as a Coach for the Claude Evans Summer Basketball Program more than fifteen years.  He served as the Junior Varsity Basketball Coach for Battle Creek Central for more than twenty years.

He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, John and Flossie (Hill) Watkins, maternal grandparents, Square and Estella (Dotts) Williams, father, Floyd Watkins, mother, Katie Catherine Williams Watkins Hubbard, brother, Jerome Watkins and his best-friend, Alvin White in 1987.  He is survived by the mother of his children, Lachel Burton, North Las Vegas, Nevada, significant other, Sharon Norman, Battle Creek, sons, Brenton T. Watkins, Brian Watkins, II, Brice Watkins all of Battle Creek, special son, Brandon Norman, Kalamazoo, daughters, Brittnie (Antonio) Moffett, North Las Vegas, Nevada, Brenna (Kelly) Vosen, Manhattan, Montana, special daughter, Brittine Norman, Battle Creek, brother, Levi (Katie) Watkins, sisters, Deborah (Sylvester) Malone and Dara (Michael) Evans, all of Battle Creek, his lifelong best friend Dan Fettig of Battle Creek, and  fifteen grandchildren.

Tribute Basketball Game, will be held Saturday March 2, 2024, 3:00 to 7:00 p.m., at The Family YMCA Sport Complex, Battle Creek. Arrangements, Toombs by Crystal Funeral Services.