SUFFOLK — Mr. Wilburn Wilson Jr., a resident of Suffolk, Va., departed this life on Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2009 at Sentara Obici Hospital in Suffolk. Mr. Wilson was born on May 26, 1941 in Memphis, Tenn., to the late Wilburn and Pearl Wilson. He is predeceased by a brother, Clarence Ervin Wilson. Mr. Wilson was one of seven children and the beloved husband of Roberta B. Wilson for more than 42 years. He will forever be remembered by his beloved children, Michelle (Travis) Mabrey and Keisha (Alger) Nichols; treasured grandchildren, Jasmine Mabrey, Janelle Mabrey and Kiersten Nichols; devoted brothers, Elbert (Willie Mae) Wilson, of Los Angeles, Nathaniel (Eloise) Wilson, of Southside, Tenn., Raymond (Mahnaz) Wilson, of Memphis; loving sisters, Shirley (George) Shipp, of Munford, Tenn. and Barbara Waller, of Gurnee, Ill.; three sisters-in-law, Bernice (James) Elam Sr. of Zuni, Va., Irene B. Littlejohn, of Suffolk, and Lurline Wilson, of Memphis, Tenn.; brothers-in-law, George Eley Sr., of Zuni, and William Rountree, of Suffolk; two godchildren, Josiah Allen, of Suffolk, and Dameron (Cle) Jones, of Gaithersburg, Md. and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and other relatives and friends.
He dedicated his life to educating and assisting others. Some of his accomplishments include forming a local chapter of JETS (Junior Engineering Technical Society) at Suffolk High School in 1982; getting Suffolk High School involved with CHROME (Cooperating Hampton Roads Organization for Minorities in Engineering, Inc.) in 1983; finding employment at various engineering companies for CHROME students; being selected as the CHROME Sponsor of the Year; being nominated by CHROME for the National Teacher Award for Community Service; being selected as Suffolk Teacher of the Year in 1993; being selected as Lakeland High School Teacher of the Year from 1999-2000; and teaching in the Suffolk Public School System from 1969 to 1973 and from 1975 until retirement in 2003. He was employed in Isle of Wight School System prior to employment with Suffolk Public Schools.
Community activities included being a member of East Suffolk Gardens Civic League; tutoring high school and college students; assisting the elderly and disabled; and supervising youth cleaning and restoring damage of the Great Dismal Swamp. In addition, Mr. Wilson contributed financially to his community. He made numerous monetary donations to the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, the American Cancer Society, Disabled American Veterans, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, the Heart Fund, the Cancer Research Center, Knoxville College Fund, Virginia State University Alumni, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Suffolk Retired Teachers, Children’s Hospital, the Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, and the American Lung Association.
Mr. Wilson was a faithful and dedicated member of Shiloh Baptist Church, in Windsor, Va., where he served as chairman of the Deacon Board. In addition, he taught Sunday school and was a member of the Finance Committee and the Board of Trustees.
The family extends special thanks to Sentara Home Care, Lakeview Pulmonary Department and the Intensive Care Unit at Sentara Obici Hospital for the faithful and loving care.
In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Wilburn Wilson Scholarship Fund and sent to 19217 Sherwood Green Way, Gaithersburg, MD 20879 or to Shiloh Baptist Church/Wilburn Wilson Jr. Scholarship Fund.
A homegoing celebration will be Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 9000 Fire Tower Road, Windsor, Va., at 1 p.m. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Crocker Funeral Home, Inc, Suffolk, is handling the arrangements. Condolences may be extended to the family at www.crockerfuneralhome.com.