Carl Raymond Britton-Watkins, a Wesleyan Church member and substance abuse counselor, passes away at 78

Carl Raymond Britton-Watkins, 78, passed away peacefully on February 15, 2021, at his home. Born on May 5, 1942, in Logansport, Indiana, Carl was the son of Carl Sherwood Watkins and Frances Douglas Watkins. He served 20 years in the United States Marine Corps, including three tours of duty in Vietnam, and retired as a Master Gunnery Sergeant in 1979. Carl pursued his undergraduate and master’s degrees in counseling at UNC-Greensboro.

Carl was a member of Trinity Wesleyan Church in Eden, where he served as a former Christian counselor and pastor of multicultural ministries. After establishing a professional career in Greensboro, North Carolina, with the Drug Action Council and First Step, as well as Danville Memorial Hospital, Carl began his journey as a substance abuse counselor in Rockingham County in 1989. He served as Substance Abuse Director with Rockingham County Mental Health Center until 1998, when he moved to Durham Council on Alcoholism as Executive Director. During this time, Carl and his wife, Diane, opened a private practice, Genesis Christian Counseling Center, in Durham.

After leaving Durham, Carl returned to work part-time with Daymark Recovery Services. He was known for his advocacy for those suffering from addiction and his involvement with the North Carolina General Assembly on substance abuse reform. Carl also served on the State Level Child and Family Advocacy Committee (CFAC) and numerous other boards and committees, including the Executive Director of Family Life Center and a member of Addiction Professionals of North Carolina (APNC). He was an educator, providing training to both professionals and laypersons, and taught at the Governor’s School for five years.

Carl was well known and loved as both a substance abuse counselor and a Christian counselor. He was known for his genuine compassion and selflessness, offering hope, direction, and courage to those in need. His teachings emphasized self-love, forgiveness, and letting go of resentment and guilt. Carl reached out not only to those struggling with addiction but also to their families, recognizing the disease as a family issue. His work reflected a deep commitment to healing and care for all who sought his guidance.

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