WALTER WILSON SR.

Walter Wilson Sr., husband of the late Susan Faber Wilson, died on July 10, 2005, at the Palmetto Richland Health in Columbia.

Born in Sumter County on Aug. 3, 1927, he was the youngest of two children born to the late John Charles Wilson and Josephine Wilson. Walter was educated in the public schools of Sumter and graduated from high school at Morris College in 1945. He received a bachelor of science degree in elementary education from Morris College. He completed further graduate studies at North Carolina State A&T University, Greensboro, N.C., Columbia University, N.Y.C., and at the University of South Carolina.

His journey in the educational arena spanned 40 years. He began his teaching career as a practice teacher at Savage-Glover Elementary School, where he also attended as a child. "Professor," as he was called in the early days of his endeavor, was very proud of his one teacher school, the Pryor School in Chester, where his late wife, Susan, was supervisor of schools. Later, he was appointed principal of the Lando Elementary School where he remained for 16 years. He also served as principal of Dover Elementary and High School in North, and assistant principal of Manning High School. After returning to Sumter, he immediately became a District 2 staple, serving with distinction at Ebenezer Middle and High Hills Middle schools. Walter was known throughout the district as a bulwark for students' and teachers' rights and was often called on to intercede on behalf of fellow colleagues.

Walter was a cradle member of Emmanuel United Methodist Church, where he served in many capacities including church lay leader, former chairperson of the Council on Ministries, former delegate to the S.C. Annual Conference, the administrative board and former Sunday school teacher and member of the United Methodist Men, the senior choir and was currently a member of the pastor-parish committee.

He was an active member of the Sumter Kingfest Committee, the Greenthumb Garden Club, former ex-committeeman of the Savage-Glover Precinct, the R-SCEA and R-NEA and a former member of the Sumter Goodfellows Club.

In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by a brother, John Allen Wilson.

Surviving are two sons, James "Ted" Wilson Sr. and his wife, Maggie Johnson Wilson, and Walter "Chuck" Wilson Jr., all of Sumter; a daughter, Deborah Wilson Vaughn of Roanoke, Va.; four grandchildren, James Vincent Wilson Jr., Erin J. Wilson, Kenneth H. Vaughn III and Courtney Vaughn; two foster sisters, Florence B. Vaughn and Janie Washington of Sumter; three special cousins who were reared as sisters, Rebecca McMiller of Baltimore, Md., Adeline Powell of Danville, Va., and Ruth McBride of Saginaw, Mich.; also reared in the home, a foster son, John Lewis Woodard and his wife, Carrie; a goddaughter, Janet Smith Clayton; special cousins, Leroy and Nan Smith, and Scotty McQuiller; a special friend, Jo L. White; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mr. Wilson will be held at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Emmanuel United Methodist Church at Bee and Main streets with the pastor, the Rev. Willie Wilson, officiating, assisted by Dr. Luns C. Richardson, the Rev. Dr. Levern Witherspoon, the Rev. Charles Smith and the Rev Fr. Charles F. Walton. Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park.

Mr. Wilson will be placed in the church for viewing at 3 p.m. until the hour of service. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. this evening and at other times, 2845 Joyce St., Sumter.

Memorials may be made to the Walter and Susan Wilson Education Endowment, c/o James V. Wilson, P.O. Box 2395, Sumter, SC 29151.

Online memorials may be made to palmermemchapel@sc.rr.com.

Palmer Memorial Chapel of Sumter is in charge of arrangements.