James Joseph Wilson

Born in Syracuse, New York on April 21, 1942 to Jerome and Dorothy Wilson, Jim graduated from Jamesville-Dewitt High School, where he met the love of his life and wife of over 62 years, Lee Shultes Wilson.

In 1960, Jim began a career in his family business, "Wilsons Jewelers", where he successfully led an expansion from the original flagship store on Salina Street, to five stores located in shopping malls around suburban Syracuse. Later in life, he shifted careers and launched a very successful sales consulting business in Virginia Beach, VA which he built from scratch and was proud of.

Jim was always extremely passionate about giving back to his community. In Syracuse, he directed annual fundraising campaigns for both United Way of Central New York as well as WCNY PBS public television. He was also actively involved in Big Brothers and Huntington Family Center, and tutored regularly at local elementary schools, making a lasting impact on countless youth in the communities he lived in.

In 2012, Jim helped introduce the sport of pickleball to the Chapel Hill, NC community, where he became their first USA Pickleball Ambassador, helping to establish the Chapel Hill Pickleball Association.

Jim will forever be remembered for the love of his family, especially his six grandchildren. They were his first thoughts in the morning, and his last thought at night. He loved to spend time with them and was their biggest champion.

Jim's family includes his wife of 62 years, Lee Shultes Wilson of Cary, NC, their children John David Wilson II (Denise) of Cary, NC; Dori Wilson Brady (Michael) of Cary, NC, and Joshua James Wilson (Kathryn) of Cambodia; his brother Tom Wilson-Weinberg (John Whyte) of Philadelphia, PA; and his six beloved grandchildren: Nicholas, Isabel, Noelani, Jalen, John David III "Jack", and Myles.

He is predeceased by his brother Jerome Martin Wilson, Jr.

The Wilson Family is greatly appreciative of the care Jim received at Duke Hock Family Pavilion. The doctors, nurses, and support staff were beyond exceptional.

A celebration of Jim's life will be held in Syracuse at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to United Way or a charity of one's choice.