Doris Madalyn Wilkerson

Doris Madalyn Wilkerson, age 95, passed away peacefully October 26, 2021, after she finished her dinner that evening. She was born October 19, 1926 in New Richmond, Ohio to Jestine and Marie Hunter. She was the last born of her two siblings Robert Hunter and Geraldine Bivens.

She married Donald Adams Wilkerson (Army Veteran) in June of 1947, who preceded her in death in 2006. Her daughter, Denise Marie Campbell also preceded her in death in 1985.

Wither her parents and siblings, she spent her adolescent years in Cincinnati, Ohio. She graduated from Withrow High School in Cincinnati, Ohio. She also attended college in West Virginia.

Doris was a pillar of strength for her family. She was a dedicated mom of five, including a set of twins, and a longtime Army military wife. She was committed to our country and served right alongside her husband as a military spouse. She also lived her role as Grandmother (GMom) and Great Grandmother (GGMom). She was so easy to be around, she often became "Mom" to many who met her, she was just that kind of lady.

She was very progressive and had a fantastic sense of humor and loved to laugh. She could also whistle like a bird and could sing and dance. She and Dad used to love to go out dancing together in their younger days. She loved music, especially jazz.

She, supporting her military spouse and family, traveled to world and embraced all the wonderful side excursions that go with it. Some of the many places she traveled and enjoyed were; Germany, France, Spain, Amsterdam, Austria, Mexico. Domestically they lived in Tucson, Arizona; Huntsville, Alabama; Ft. Richardson - Anchorage, Alaska; White Sands, New Mexico; Ft. Bliss - El Paso, Texas; Niagara Falls, New York; Seaside, California; Marysville, California; Yuba City, California; San Antonio, Texas.

She helped create many memories as the matriarch of our family (she was an adventurous, fun-loving, cool Mom/GMom/GGMom). She worked at a Daycare in Anchorage, Alaska, she loved to read and worked as a Librarian in Germany and worked a JCPenny on the second tour to Anchorage, Alaska. She was the household Jeopardy champion. She LOVED sports and therefore all her children did too.

She loved the Lord and had a quiet yet committed relationship with God. She supported a variety of churches. She also supported her Habitat for Humanity, Southern Poverty Law Center, United Negro College Fund, and political candidates of her choice. She loved President Barack Obama. She was a huge advocate for voting and kept a pocket-sized book of the United States Constitution.

In her journey, she experienced many, many instances of racism and prejudice but did not allow those experiences to deter her from being a good and kind woman of God, and taught her children to be the same. She was a great example to all of us.

She had many experiences in her life. Along with the family, she survived a forest fire on the way back from Alaska on the AICan Highway (Alaska/Canada) to the lower 48 United States, the great earthquake in Anchorage, Alaska on Good Friday 1964, a major flood in Yuba, City, California and the brutal heat of Arizona.

She loved the beach, she also loved Arizona & the desert. She liked fishing, camping, golfing, traveling, shopping and had a very sharp eye for fashion. She was also the Den Mother for the Cub Scouts in Huntsville, Alabama, no not the Girl Scouts, LOL.

She is survived by her daughters, Donna Wilkerson, Terry Randolph, Jaye Brown; son, Gerry Wilkerson; sons-in-law, David Randolph, Roosevelt Brown; Grandson-in-law, Al Harris; Grandsons, Chirstopher Nicks, Aaron Randolph, Brandon Randolph, Kyl Randolph, Jordan Brown; Granddaughters, Lisa Harris, Christina Wilkerson, Lydia Bell; Great Grandchildren, Kayla Harris, Christopher Harris, Ayvah Randolph.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.valleyofthesunfuneralhome.com for the WILKERSON family.