Rev. Jimmy L. Wilson

On December 9, 2020 Rev. Jimmy Lewis Wilson, after a valiant battle with a long illness, surrendered his earthly life to spend eternity with his heavenly father. He was preceded in death by his father Eugene Wilson Sr., grandmother Vela Mae Mills, grandmother-in-law Lessie McFadden, aunt Johnsie Lee Mills Reeves, godfather Bobby Lewis Green, and Michael Mills, a cousin that was raised as his brother.

Rev. Jimmy Lewis Wilson, the son of the late Eugene Wilson, Sr., and Willie Mae Mills Wilson, was born July 8, 1960 in Olanta, South Carolina. At an early age, he accepted Jesus as his personal savior and received teaching and Christian growth at Mt. Zion Freewill Baptist Church of Olanta, SC on Hwy 341. He learned God’s word faithfully and felt a calling on his life at an early age.

Rev. Wilson graduated from Olanta High School in 1978 and attended Newberry College. He later matriculated to Coker College of Hartsville, SC and received a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He received two master’s degrees from Webster University in Business and Administration Management.

In 2003, he accepted his call to the ministry and attended Erskine Theological Seminary in Due West, SC for his ministerial education and training. He served faithfully in ministry where he joined Oak Grove African Methodist Episcopal (AME) Church and became an associate pastor under the tutelage of Reverend Oliver Davis; pastored at Bethel Hill AME Church in Latta, SC from 2007 until 2011; and was an associate pastor at Sandy Grove Missionary Baptist Church in Bennettsville, SC under the leadership of Pastor Gilbert E. Wilson.

His secular employment tenure includes Smith Graving and Paving company, he became the first black Chief of Police in the Lake City, SC, Police Department; worked at the Florence Sheriff Department; Ron McNair Nursing Home; and Child Protection Unit of the Department of Social Services. His most recent employment was as a career counselor at Southside Middle School until his health began to deteriorate.

Rev. Wilson was a happy man; always desiring to help young people. He created a wall of all the children that touched his life. He was so friendly and people always reminded him of the help that he provided them during the years. He was a mentor that helped so many young people turn their lives around. His students, children, nieces, nephews, and godchildren along with his family deeply love and admired him for being the great teacher, mentor, and man he was.

In holy matrimony, he married Melva Carr on September 23, 1980 and they were blessed with two loving sons. Jimmy also nurtured, as his own, two sons and seventeen godchildren. From the very beginning, he dedicated his children to God and encouraged them to explore the beauty of the gospels.

Those who remain to grow from being loved by him and to see his visions in the future are his faithful and loving middle school sweetheart and loving wife of 40 years: Melva Carr Wilson of the home; children Jimmy Jamar (Jessica) Wilson, Jhared Jerell Wilson, Dorian (Megan) Coletrain, of Florence, SC; and Sean (Rayetta) Barr of Augusta, Georgia; his loving mother Willie Mae Mills Wilson; godmother Ophus Green; three grandchildren Destiny Wilson, Sean Barr, Jr., and Savanah Barr; seven siblings Eugene Wilson, Jr., Shirley (Randall) Lee, Deloris Woods, Glenn (Andrea) Wilson, Mary Gibbs, Joyce Wilson Parker and Cheryl Hilton; uncles and aunts Donald (Odell) Wilson, Roy Wilson, Issac (Deloris) Wilson; Sammy Wilson, Margaret Walker, and Mattie (Riley) Meyers; and a multitude of in-laws, godchildren, nieces, nephews, family and friends. He is dearly missed by his loved ones, who now celebrate that he is at peace with his creator. To the Agape Care Hospice and Comfort Keeper Staff of Florence, SC, we will forever be grateful for your services, kindness and the compassionate care rendered during Jimmy’s final months of his earthly life.