We mourn the passing of our friend and former Madison Public Market Foundation board member Leslie Watkins. She died March 5, 2023 at her Madison home surrounded by family and friends after a battle with pancreatic cancer. A Wisconsin State Journal article describes her as “the brightest light in any room”. Leslie was an entrepreneur, marketing expert, community advocate, retail guru and arts impresario. With her stationery store Paperteria, she became one of the first female African American retailers in Downtown Madison. She will be missed by many friends, family and associates.
