Community to honor mother and son

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Members of the Buffalo community will come together to remember a mother and her son.  Loved ones will honor three-year-old Malachi Watkins and 23-year-old Laquisha Watkins Monday.

Laquisha and Malachi’s lives were cut short after a fire tore through their Timon Street home last month. Flames and smoke spewed out of the home, ultimately leveling it.

Firefighters rescued the mother and her son from a back bedroom. Both later died at the hospital. Malachi’s father B.J. and two-year-old brother Micah were able to escape.

Malachi’s grandmother Prophetess Cherise Shabazz said, “Malachi was the type of child that would literally try to take care of his siblings. If he saw Micah wasn’t feeling well, he would say ‘Are you okay?’ He was very easy to share, a very easy child to get along with.”

Family members say they’ll miss little Malachi’s sweet spirit. Shabazz says the only comforting thing in the midst of this tragedy is that her grandson’s organs were donated to save the lives of others.

His kidneys and intestines were given to UNYTS, a service that matches donors and recipients. Shabazz says when Malachi’s father made the very difficult decision to end his life support, but gained comfort in knowing his life would help three families.

Shabazz said, “My son kissed his baby again and turned away. And he felt as though he did the best thing. He said he was proud of Malachi. He hated that he had to go like that, but Malachi blessed other children. And he said, 'My son will live on in other children'.”

The wake and funeral for Malachi and Laqueisha will take place at Miracle Christian Fellowship on Jefferson in Buffalo at 11 a.m.