Wesley Wilson

Wesley Allen Wilson, 86, of Thomasville, GA, passed away on Sunday, October 14, 2018 after a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born March 16, 1932, the firstborn child of the late John William Daniel and Leah Martin Wilson. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by siblings Theodore “Ted” Wilson (Mary) of Jacksonville, FL; Margaret (Suretha) Green of High Springs, FL; and Nora Jane Brock (Charles) of Vernon, FL. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Eleanor Hasty Wilson of Thomasville. A memorial service will be held Saturday, October 20, 2018 at 2:00 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Thomasville, where he was a member. Rev. Burns Willis and Rev. James Sapp will officiate. A reception will follow in the church fellowship hall. A private family inurnment will be held at Laurel Hill Cemetery at 4:00 p.m. Wesley was born at home in the Duncan community, near Chipley, of Washington County, FL. Wesley always said that “no one was home but him and grandpa.” He attended the University of Florida School of Civil Engineering and was an avid Gator fan. He served the City of Thomasville as City Engineer for 37 years. He was instrumental in the creation of Thomasville’s Municipal Airport and construction of the M.L. King, Jr. Street overpass, as well as the Hansell Street underpass, the sanitary landfill, and the wastewater treatment facility. In 1984 he received the Samuel A. Greeley Local Government Service Award at the International Public Works Congress. He chaired the Pension Fund for the City of Thomasville and worked diligently to ensure strong pensions’ benefits for all city employees. He also served as Assistant City Manager and Interim City Manager for the City of Thomasville. He was a long-time member of the American Association of Civil Engineers and was a Licensed Professional Engineer. Wesley was a member of the Thomasville Kiwanis Club for many years and served a term as president. He was elected United Methodist Men’s president for the South Georgia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church in 1984 and was re-elected President in 1986. He volunteered with Habitat for Humanity in Thomas County for many years, once receiving Volunteer of the Year. He held many leadership positions at Dawson Street and First United Methodist Churches, including serving at FUMC as one of the first Stephen Ministers. Wesley leaves behind his wife, Celeste Durham Wilson; two siblings: Frank Wilson (Sue) of Thomasville and Phyllis Brittle (Park) of Monticello, FL; two daughters: Donna Sanders (Buddy) of Sylva, NC and Mary Jane Wilson-Parsons (Scott) of Ocean Isle Beach, NC; two step-daughters: Carla Inman (Bill) of Thomasville and Kay Sturniolo (Joe) of Atlanta; as well as grandchildren: Julie Rasmussen (Josh), Thomasville; Wesley Simon-Parsons (Amanda), Williamsburg, VA; William Inman (Danielle), Washington, D.C.; Katie Cruce (Bryan), Atlanta; and Thomas Parsons (Lauren Cross), Raleigh, NC; and great-grandchildren Will and Jane Rasmussen, Thomasville. In lieu of flowers, please send memorial gifts to the Thomas County Food Bank or the Lawson Neel Med. Bank, c/o First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 975, Thomasville, GA. 31799. Guests may visit his tribute page at www.allenfh.com .