William Wilson

William Cortez Wilson was born October 16, 1936 to the late “Jack” Wilson and Donnie Wilson in Wewoka, OK.
At an early age he acquired the nickname of “Wimpy” due to his fondness for hamburgers. He was later called simply “Wilson” after beginning his military career. In fact, the name stuck so well that his grand-daughter grew up thinking his name was “Wilson Wilson.” He would also affectionately be remembered as “Mr. Wilson” from the many children that flocked around him, drawn to his playful spirit.
William graduated from Douglass High School and later attended Langston University where he enjoyed playing on the basketball team. He decided to voluntarily enlist in the United States Army while in college. William left Oklahoma and thus began his worldly career as a military man. He served as a military policeman as he toured all over including Germany, Washington, South Carolina, Hawaii, Vietnam and Korea. He proudly displayed his unit’s name “25th Infantry Division” on his beloved Vietnam Veteran’s hat until his last days. He would later attend Anne Arundel Community College where he completed his degree.
While in South Carolina he met and married the love of his life, Nancy, in 1962. He became a father to her children Jerry and Carolyn and they began to travel together as a military family. He welcomed several grandchildren and become the perfect example of the doting grandfather.
William retired from the military in 1980 as a Sergeant First Class, E7, but continued to work as a civilian with the Army as a recruiter. He later retired completely from the government, but found that he could not stand to be idle. He began to work as a greeter at Pace Warehouse and finally BJ’s Warehouse in Columbia, MD. He was well known and liked by everyone who came through the door. You could often hear him singing while he worked.
He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Guilford in Columbia, MD where he served on the Male Usher Board and the Male Chorus. He was ordained as a Deacon on February 17, 1989. He also chaired the Widow and Widower's annual picnic and Christmas dinner for many, many years. Deacon Wilson was well known for his testimonies and singing.
An avid sports fan, he watched anything from basketball to water polo. William C. Wilson was a kind hearted soul who loved to put on a sharp suit, drink sweet tea, eat hot dogs straight from the pack, sing gospel songs unfamiliar to anyone else and joke with/play with/mentor children. Above all else though, he loved the Lord and his family. He was known by all for his fierce love for his wife Nancy. He was a firm believer in “happy wife, happy life” and, in his final days, he spoke often of his immense appreciation of her role in his life.
He leaves to cherish his loving memories, his adoring wife Nancy Wilson, son Jerry Means, Sr. and his wife Georgeanna Means; daughter Carolyn Brown; granddaughter Sonya Brown Daye and her husband Jermel Daye; grandsons Jerry Means, Jr., Tyrone Means and Michael Means, There are 14 great- grandchildren; 4 great-great grandchildren; sister Etolia Maye Abraham, nieces and nephews, and a host of loved ones he considered to be family.
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