Evelyn Jones Wilson

Evelyn Jones Wilson departed this life on December 20, 2025. She loved the joy of life and left this world the way she lived it – strong, proud, independent and with abiding faith and irreproachable integrity.

Mrs. Wilson was born in Tampa on November 23, 1929, the middle child of Goosby G. Jones and Maria Meteye Jones. She was preceded in death by her brothers, Charles "Goosby" Jones and Joseph G. Jones. Mrs. Wilson was a devout and life-long Catholic and was baptized at St. Peter Claver Catholic Church where she attended grade school and high school, prior to completing the last year of high school at Middleton High School in Tampa. At MHS, she was the only girl on the school newspaper staff. In 1950, she organized the first senior girl’s scout troop for Black girls. In preparation for a career in business, she attended Washington Junior College in Pensacola, Florida and the University of Tampa.

In 1953, Mrs. Wilson married Charles F. Wilson, an attorney, and during his practice of law in Pensacola Florida, they had two children, Charles R. Wilson, and Valerie M. Wilson.

For most of her career, and until her death, Mrs. Wilson was a licensed Realtor, affiliated with Preston and Farley and Smith and Associates. She was one of the first Black Realtors in Tampa. Beginning in 1962, she relocated numerous minority persons and families who were displaced by urban renewal, and over the next decades courageously listed homes in all-white neighborhoods for purchase by her minority clients. In the early 1960’s, Mrs. Wilson served as administrative assistant to Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, a “first” among Blacks to attain such a position in Tampa and probably the whole Southeast. She broke racial barriers when selected to serve as a clerk in the accounting department at the former Marine Bank and Trust Company, Florida’s oldest trust company. Newspapers reported that she passed a series of exams with “flying colors”.

In 1975, Mrs. Wilson ran for a seat on the Tampa City Council – District 3. Although she came in second in a three-candidate race, she remained friends with both of her opponents, who later became her real estate clients.

Mrs. Wilson loved collecting antiques, baking desserts (especially her annual red velvet cake at Christmas time), interior decorating for her friends and clients, and playing bingo in her later years. She especially loved traveling and even worked on the side as a travel consultant. Gift-giving at birthday and other holiday celebrations was a special treat for her, and she took great delight in watching recipients of her thoughtfulness open gifts ordered from her favorite retail establishment, Von Maur.

Mrs. Wilson’s professional affiliations include The Tampa Board of Realtors, The Florida Association of Realtors, The National Association of Realtors, The Tampa Urban League, the Tampa Chamber of Commerce and the Tampa Board of Realtors Community Housing Resource Board. She was one of the founders of Tampa’s Builders of Better Citizens, an organization devoted to the development of political, educational and civic responsibility. In 1980, Governor Bob Graham appointed her to serve on the Florida Board of Independent Post-Secondary, Vocational, Technical and Business Schools.

Mrs. Wilson was a parishioner at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, and before she became ill, never missed Mass on Sunday.

Mrs. Wilson is survived by her two devoted children, United States Circuit Judge Charles R. Wilson and Valerie Wilson Reed, with whom she enjoyed a rich and fulfilling life. They were her pride and joy. She was a strict disciplinarian who dedicated her life to providing a loving and nourishing home for them. She raised them in the Catholic faith. She relished their professional accomplishments and enjoyed following their college sports teams, Notre Dame and Marquette.

In addition to her son and daughter, Mrs. Wilson leaves to cherish her daughter-in-law Belinda Wilson and son-in-law Reginald Reed; grandchildren: Courtney Theresa Wilson, Kendall Maria Wilson, and Francesca Reed Cianciola; grandson: Anthony Cianciola; nephews: Ty Granderson Jones (Danielle), Charles “Chuck” Jones, and Michael Jones (Holly); devoted cousin: Denise James; sisters-in-law Joanna Tokley and Debbie Jones; extended family: Cathy Covington, Shirley Knowles, Delores MacIntosh, Betty Hearn and many devoted friends.

Mrs. Wilson is grateful for the care provided to her by Dr. Kent Corral and Dr. Stephen Krist.

The family will receive visitors at Blount and Curry Life Event Center - MacDill, 605 South MacDill Avenue on Tuesday, December 30, 2025, at 1:00 p.m., after recitation of the Holy Rosary at noon. A private family graveside service to follow where she will be rested at the Garden of Memories.

Donations in Mrs. Wilson’s memory can be made to the American Foundation for the Blind using the link below.