Remembering the Rev. Kirtland Watkins and celebrating his life of service

The Rev. Kirtland Watkins, a long-time priest with the United Methodist Church in Sea Cliff and former chaplain of the Sea Cliff Fire Department, died on Aug. 28, leaving behind a legacy of service, community involvement, and spiritual guidance.

Watkins, who served his church and community with distinction, is remembered by family, colleagues, and friends as a man of deep compassion, unwavering faith, and dedication to helping others.

Born in Oakdale, Watkins led a life defined by service in many forms. His daughter, Kira Ray, who serves as an EMT with the Sea Cliff Fire Department, recalls her father’s influence on her own path to serving others.

“He completely influenced me,” Ray said. “He always raised us with the desire to serve.”

Ray is now a paramedic with the New York City Fire Department, a career she attributes directly to her father’s encouragement and example. She added that after high school, when she was deciding what to do with her life, her father brought her an application for the Sea Cliff Fire Department, where she has served for the last decade.

Watkins’ dedication to service extended beyond his family. He was a Vietnam War veteran, having served in the Marine Corps during the conflict. According to Ray, he was injured in Vietnam, sustaining a gunshot wound to his leg. Though he did not speak often about his time in the military, she said that his service to his country was another testament to his commitment to the greater good.

Following his military service, Watkins pursued a variety of careers, including teaching and bartending, before feeling a call to ministry. His decision to join the clergy came later in life, a transition that Ray said she believes was deeply connected to his inherent desire to help others.

“He had always been a religious person,” she said. “We grew up going to church, and after 9/11, he decided to pursue seminary. I think he felt a deep need to serve others in that way.”

Watkins completed his seminary training and took his first placement at a church upstate. However, it was in Sea Cliff where he found his true home. He served as the priest at the United Methodist Church for seven years, becoming a beloved figure in the community.

Jesse Lebus, Watkins’ successor as chaplain of the Sea Cliff Fire Department and rector at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, described his role as a natural extension of Watkins’ lifelong devotion to service.

“Kirt had a life of careers in service to others, whether it was in the military, teaching, or the church,” Lebus said. “Becoming the chaplain of the fire department made perfect sense.”

As chaplain, Watkins was a spiritual guide and support system for the firefighters, offering prayers at events, ceremonies, and during times of tragedy. James Ajamien, former chief of the department, shared how Watkins’ presence at the firehouse was always deeply appreciated.

“He was the spiritual figurehead for the department,” Ajamien said. “He had this deep, commanding voice—he was also a DJ, so he knew how to speak with authority.”

Although Watkins was not actively fighting fires in his later years, he remained deeply involved with the fire department. According to Ray, he initially participated in the physical firefighting duties but transitioned to focusing on his chaplaincy as he got older.

“He was always there to provide spiritual support,” Ray said.
Ray and Watkins shared a unique bond through their work with the fire department. Ray recalls fond memories of going on ambulance calls together.

“Sometimes he would drive the ambulance, and I’d be the tech in the back,” she said. “We would go to dinners and events together. It was fun, and I was always treated well because of who my dad was. He commanded a certain level of respect, and I think that carried over to me.”

Watkins’ commitment to the Sea Cliff community extended beyond the fire department and church. Despite his many responsibilities, Ray said her father never struggled to balance his roles as a husband, father, and community leader.

“It was never an issue,” she said. “He was always present. I don’t know how he balanced it all, but it helped that everything was so local, and Sea Cliff is such a small community. It never felt like he was gone or that we were lacking in any way.”

In his later years, Watkins retired from the church and moved with his wife closer to her family in Holbrook. However, his influence on Sea Cliff remains strong. Ray, who still lives in the village, says that her love for the community kept her there, even after her parents moved.

“I love Sea Cliff. I started high school here, and it’s where I made my home,” she said.