On May 2, Rock Solid Ministries’ parishioners gathered to honor the late Charles Eugene Watson with a memorial plaque to hang near the church at 1024 E. Main St., Richmond.
The ceremony was led by Pastor David Eales, a friend who credits Charles for the building that became Refuge of Hope women’s shelter. Eales mentioned the need for a shelter to Watson in casual conversation. Days later, Charles called saying he purchased the neighboring building for Eales to start the mission.
Charles’s brother, Dick, says he was always ready to share and help people.
“My mind goes back to him one night watching the news down here. A kid had his bicycle stolen in Cincinnati down on Vine Street,” said Dick. He says Charles purchased a limousine and took the little boy on a joyride through town before buying him a brand new bike.
“He’s always been a giver,” said Dick. Watson even gave him his first job, a career he had for 55 years.
Dick said he and Charles’s work ethic developed as kids, pushing ice carts and stacking bowling pins. As an adult, Watson entered the car business in the early ’60s at Dean Meadows on South Fifth Street in Richmond. He moved to Volkswagen, which was called Gene Thompson, and eventually became the sales manager at Fred First Ford.
Dick said Charles’s philosophy for success was to strive to make customers’ lives just a little bit better.
“He called me one time and said, ‘You realize, Richard, that people buy people, they don’t buy cars. If they don’t like the person, they’re not going to buy it no matter what the price is.’”
Charles’s grandson, Charlie of Mark Williams Auto Group, joined the family business at 17 and recalls Charles telling him he wasn’t in the car-selling business.
“He said, ‘Your job is to build relationships with people and solve their problems,’” said Charlie. Before Charles passed, Charlie said he told him to continue the work of the ministries they felt called to support.
“He taught us to give, especially tithes,” said Charlie. “He said ‘the first 10% that you ever make you give to the church and you give to God.’ That’s something I’ve done since I was 14 years old.”
Charles passed away in November of last year after an illness.
A version of this article appeared in the May 13 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.