Proverbs 31:28 “Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and we praiseth her.”
A family reunion took place this day, February 4, 2019 at 6:45 am: Mother went home.
II Corinthians 5:8 “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
First to greet her, her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who she received as her personal Savior at the age of eight years old. Next was the love of her life for 52 years, Mack Wilson (March 5, 2002). Mother was the youngest daughter and the last remaining survivor of Loyd (1982) and Eliza (1984) Bernard Light. What a fellowship for Mother with her siblings: Lover (2007), Tot (2004), Ruth (1950), J.E. (2004), Nephew, Jimmy Byford (2010), and Son-in-law, David Cowden (2015).
Mother loved everyone she met. She was a prayer warrior. Her relationship with our Heavenly Father was a reflection of her life. II Timothy 4:6-7 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
It was always a joy to sit and listen to her tell stories of her childhood and as a pastor’s daughter her father would be gone several weeks in a revival and she would long for him to come home, off to the barn and on her knees she would pray, “God send my daddy home tonight,” and the prayer was answered.
She was a wonderful Mother, caring with lots of compassion. When she spoke you knew to listen: no waiting on Dad to come home.
Ephesian 6: 1-3 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord for this is right. Honor thy father and mother (which is the first commandment with promise;) That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth.”
Mother was born July 23, 1929. A 1948 graduate of Sullivan High School, an employee of Tennessee Eastman Company until the birth of her first child. This was when she became a full-time devoted mother to the six children she would have.
Left to cherish her precious memories are her children, Sue (Larry) Watts, Bill (Kathy) Wilson, Ruth Wilson, Tim (Barbara) Wilson, Jeff (Vicki) Wilson, and Lori Cowden; grandchildren, Emiley Wilson, Seth (Elisa) Wilson, Caitlin (Zach) Hall, Daniel (Denise) Cowden, and Ashley (Dusty) Duty; great grandchildren, Laura Duty, Adele Wilson, Elliott Wilson, and Sarah Duty; sisters-in-law, Ona Light, Dot Wilson, Charlotte Wilson, Nancy Wilson; brother-in-law, Reverend James Byford; and several nieces and nephews.
Mother was a member of Eastern Star Freewill Baptist Church where she had lots of friends and gave away lots of hugs and kisses. Special caregivers to Mother were “Those Wilson Six” and Roxanne.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made to Eastern Star F.W. B. Church, located at 153 Eastern Star Ext., Kingsport, TN 37663.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm at East Lawn Funeral Home. Services will follow in the chapel with Pastor Kevin Rose officiating. Graveside services will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at 11:00 am at East Lawn Memorial Park. Serving as pallbearers will be grandsons – Seth and Daniel, and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be David Frazier and Troy Hood.
Online condolences may be made to the family at www.eastlawnkingsport.com. East Lawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park has the honor of serving the family.
