James Paul Wilson

James P Wilson, age 83 and lifelong resident of Chattanooga, died peacefully on Sunday afternoon, January 22, 2012 surrounded by his family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul Milton and Kate Whittemore Wilson, and his wife of 55 years, Noveita Trotter Wilson. Jim was a graduate of Central High School, received his Bachelors in Music at The University of Chattanooga and his Masters in Science at Florida State University. He taught music at Tennessee Wesleyan College, where he met Noveita. Jim served in the United States Army during the Korean conflict and was a member of the Third Army Band. He worked in real estate sales nearly 50 years at John R. Evans Real Estate Company of Chattanooga. Jim was organist and choir director at Second Presbyterian Church of Chattanooga for 30 years, then church pianist at First Presbyterian for 27 years, during which time he also accompanied the Glenn Draper Singers in Chattanooga and abroad. Most recently he served as pianist and choir accompanist at Brainerd Presbyterian Church. Jim was a lifetime member of the Chattanooga Musician’s Union. He played solo piano for countless civic and community functions, celebrations and weddings, and was leader and member of numerous jazz bands, most recently the Chattanooga Jazz Quartet. For many years he was music director and band leader for the Miss Chattanooga Beauty Pageant and the Cotton Ball, and pianist for the Chattanooga Symphony Orchestra. Jim is survived by his three children; J. Gregory and wife Megan Wilson of East Ridge, Tennessee, Karen Wilson Harper and husband Don Harper of Newbury Park, California, and Jennifer Wilson of Knoxville, Tennessee, as well as 3 grandchildren; D. J. Harper and Nicholas Harper of Newbury Park, California and Gabriel Wilson of East Ridge, Tennessee. He has two sisters-in-law; Jeannine Mitchell and husband Damon Mitchell of Hixson, Tennessee and Nadien Brown of Sevierville, Tennessee, two nieces; Connie Burlingham of Sevierville, Tennessee, and Sondra Coffey of Cleveland, Tennessee as well as two nephews; Marty Brown of Knoxville, Tennessee and Eric Brown of Sevierville, Tennessee. A service celebrating Jim’s life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 554 McCallie Avenue, Chattanooga on Saturday, February 4, at 3:00pm with Ben Haden officiating. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall from 1:00 until the service begins. Memorial Contributions may be made to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, P.O. Box 4438, Chattanooga, TN, 37403 or to the Ronald McDonald House, 200 Central Avenue, Chattanooga, TN 37403. under the direction of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist-East Chapel, East Ridge, TN.