Rev. Daniel Wilkerson

Rev. Daniel Wilkerson was born on 9/11/1947 in Charleston, WV, and passed away on June 14, 2025. Dan graduated from Stonewall Jackson High School in Charleston and then went into the Navy, serving on the USS Borie. He married Nancy Parcell of Charleston, WV, on June 2, 1967, and they remained married until her death in 2019, 52 years later. He was serving on the USS Borie in Vietnam when his son, Daniel L. Wilkerson, was born on 9/10/1968. Since Dan was across the International Date Line, he received the news of his son’s birth on his birthday. After his service in the Navy, Dan attended the University of the Cumberlands, graduating as valedictorian of his class with a double major in History and Religion. He pursued graduate studies but could not complete them due to health complications involving his wife, Nancy. He went on to become a Southern Baptist pastor and served as a pastor in churches in Kentucky, West Virginia, and Florida. He spent most of his career, 30 years, as the senior pastor at First Baptist Church of Malabar in Florida. He then retired and moved back to Charleston, WV, where he briefly pastored at Malden Baptist Church and served as a chaplain at an elder care facility in Charleston. In 2020, Dan found his church home at Charleston Baptist Temple (CBT), which quickly became his family. At CBT, he was the chairman of the Deacons, served on the Executive Board, the Bylaw Revision Committee, and was active in the choir and Sunday School. He also preached on several occasions at CBT over the past five years. He was a proud member of the Lunch Bunch.

Dan was a loving husband, brother, father, and father-in-law. He cherished his role since 2021 as Pawpaw to his granddaughter, Emerson Rose Wilkerson McFarland, whom he said brought great joy to his life. His favorite activity was shopping for her at Cracker Barrel and sending her packages of toys, books, and beautiful dresses that she adored. Family was the most important thing in the world to Dan, but he also felt a strong calling to help and care for all people, especially marginalized individuals. He strongly believed in using his place of privilege to protect, help, and serve those marginalized by society and misguided people of power. Dan touched more lives than we will ever know; he dedicated his life to helping others.

Dan was preceded in death by his mother, Edith Genevive Wilkerson (Vail); his father, John Graham Wilkerson Jr.; and his wife, Nancy Wilkerson. He is survived by his son, Daniel Lee Wilkerson, and daughter-in-law, Heather McFarland, of Rockledge, FL; his granddaughter, Emerson Rose Wilkerson McFarland; his sister Lois Leyva of Temecula, CA; his brother John Thomas Wilkerson of Coppers Cove, TX; his brother William David Wilkerson; and his mother-in-law, Zula Ashman of Charleston, WV.

The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, June 20, 2025, at Charleston Baptist Temple, 209 Morris Street, Charleston, WV 25301, with Rev. Jim Hewitt officiating. A live stream of the service will be available at chasbt.org under the sermons tab. The burial will take place at a future date at Donel C. Kinnard Memorial State Veterans Cemetery in Dunbar, WV, with full military honors.

A visitation with family and friends will be held one hour prior to the service on Friday.

The online guest book can be accessed at www.stevensandgrass.com.