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TO EXPRESS THE PROFOUND SORROW OF THE MEMBERS OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES UPON THE PASSING OF WILLIAM HENRY WILSON OF ORANGEBURG AND TO EXTEND THE DEEPEST SYMPATHY TO HIS FAMILY AND MANY FRIENDS.
Whereas, the South Carolina House of Representatives was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of William Henry Wilson of Orangeburg on November 6, 2021, at the age of seventy-seven; and
Whereas, born in Conway on January 2, 1944, William Henry Wilson was the elder of two children born to William Washington Wilson and Ruby Lee Harvin-Eve. Known to family and close friends as Joe, he was nurtured in the family of his mother, stepfather Arthur Eve, Sr., grandmother Elese Spain, and sister Dr. Gwendolyn D. Wilson; and
Whereas, an athletic student, he graduated in 1962 from Whittemore High School in Conway, where he was a star basketball player. There he met and later married his high school sweetheart, Elizabeth Hickman, and they became the parents of three children, Sharon Elizabeth Wilson Powell (Calvin), William Anthony, and Sheila Nicole Wilson-Smith; and
Whereas, on July 30, 1994, William Wilson married the former Dr. Margaret A. Felder and with her enjoyed twenty-five years of mutual loving devotion under the lordship of Christ until Mr. Wilson passed away; and
Whereas, the young William, always pursuing knowledge, received his bachelor's degree in health and physical education from Claflin University and a master's degree in rehabilitation counseling from South Carolina State University. Certified by the South Carolina Board of Social Work Examiners, he was a Licensed Master Social Worker; and
Whereas, never idle, he worked for the city of Aiken Recreation Department as center director of the Smith-Hazel Recreation Center and for Bamberg School District II as athletic director, basketball coach, and physical education instructor. In 1983, he was employed by the South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services Finance Commission until his retirement in 2010; and
Whereas, because he believed strongly in active community involvement, he was a past or present member of the South Carolina Public Health Association, South Carolina State Employees Association, Orangeburg County Accommodations Tax and Tourism Advisory Committee, Community Long Term Care Waivered Service Committee for DHHS, Lower Savannah Regional Aging Advisory Council, South Carolina Commission on Aging Summer School of Gerontology Planning Committee, and National Rehabilitation Counseling Association. He was a life member of the NAACP and former president of the NAACP's Orangeburg County Chapter, and he held offices at both the state and national level; and
Whereas, in 2013, Mr. Wilson was appointed to the Regional Medical Center Board of Trustees, where he served with dedication until his passing. He was honored as Trustee of the Year in 2017 for outstanding service; and
Whereas, this man of faith was an active member of Orangeburg's New Mount Zion Baptist Church, where he served as chair of the church's trustee board; and
Whereas, he leaves to cherish his memory his devoted wife, Dr. Margaret Felder-Wilson; his children, three grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren; and a host of other loving family members and friends. He will be greatly missed. Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives:
That the members of the South Carolina House of Representatives, by this resolution, express their profound sorrow upon the passing of William Henry Wilson of Orangeburg and extend the deepest sympathy to his family and many friends.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be presented to Dr. Margaret Felder-Wilson for the family.
This web page was last updated on December 6, 2021 at 12:20 PM