Lucy Wilson

Mother Lucy Beasley Wilson, the third of six children, was born September 24, 1923, in Marianna, Arkansas to the late Nathan and Daisy Beasley.  Affectionally called “MaDear”, she accepted Christ at an early age Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. J.B. Bently.

As a young child, and throughout her entire life, Mother Wilson was gifted, beautiful, loving and “authentic”.  As a child, she completed her formal education in Marianna, Arkansas, demonstrating excellence at every grade, she graduated at the top of her senior class and was her high school’s class valedictorian at Soudan School.  Though African Americans were not provided opportunities to pursue many postsecondary and professional career paths in the 1930s and 1940s, Mother Wilson would not allow her “bright light” to inspire others, to be dimmed.  Mother Wilson married Rev. Lay Fred Wilson, and they joined Gethsemane Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.  At Gethsemane Baptist Church, under the pastorage of Rev. B.F. Colvin, Mother Wilson was a Sunday School Teacher and influential organizer on many church programs and activities.  Rev. Wilson and Mother Wilson became members of Jordan Stream Baptist Church in 1988.  At Jordan Stream Baptist Church, Mother Wilson, again, became an influential and inspirational church leader.  Mother Wilson was a member of the finance committee, and she created Jordan Stream Baptist Church’s Annual Family Day Program, which hosted church members’ families and friends, consecutively, for 28-years, and annually brought families closer together, closer to God, and raising much needed funds for the church.

In addition to demonstrating her love and leadership within her family and church, Mother Wilson valued work, and worked throughout her career, most notably as a Cook at WEWS-TV 5 and employee at Ohio Bell (Ameritech), of where she retired. MaDear was an outstanding cook and baker, who loved to cook Sunday dinners, and she loved to watch the Cleveland Indians baseball team.

MaDear was a Queen and Matriarch of her family.  She was beautiful, kind, personable,  stylish, vibrant, wise, straightforward, fearless, lovable, and fun.  Mother Wilson loved God and Jesus, her family, her friends, and she loved her Jordan Stream Baptist Church and Gethsemane Baptist Church families.

Preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Lay Fred Wilson, and daughter, Rassie B. Johnson, at ninety-eight years old, Mother Wilson departed her earthly journey on November 16, 2021, and leaves to cherish her memory: one daughter, Esther M. Hale (Marvin); two sons, Elijah Council, Jr. (Barbara) and Bernard L. Wilson (Desiree); one sister, Lillie Hall of Tuskegee, Alabama; one sister-in-law, Lillie Darling; six grandchildren, Kenneth, Karen (Rodney), Carla, Charles, Chauncey, and Christian; seven great-grandchildren, Kelvin, Christopher, Rodney, Kenia, Rajaan, Kelton, and Kiera; one family daughter, Dorothy Parish (Charles) and family granddaughter, Rashonda (Ellis), and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and dear friends.

 Mother Lucy Beasley Wilson, the third of six children, was born September 24, 1923, in Marianna, Arkansas to the late Nathan and Daisy Beasley.  Affectionally called “MaDear”, she accepted Christ at an early age Mount Zion Missionary Baptist Church, under the leadership of Rev. J.B. Bently.

As a young child, and throughout her entire life, Mother Wilson was gifted, beautiful, loving and “authentic”.  As a child, she completed her formal education in Marianna, Arkansas, demonstrating excellence at every grade, she graduated at the top of her senior class and was her high school’s class valedictorian at Soudan School.  Though African Americans were not provided opportunities to pursue many postsecondary and professional career paths in the 1930s and 1940s, Mother Wilson would not allow her “bright light” to inspire others, to be dimmed.  Mother Wilson married Rev. Lay Fred Wilson, and they joined Gethsemane Baptist Church in Cleveland, Ohio.  At Gethsemane Baptist Church, under the pastorage of Rev. B.F. Colvin, Mother Wilson was a Sunday School Teacher and influential organizer on many church programs and activities.  Rev. Wilson and Mother Wilson became members of Jordan Stream Baptist Church in 1988.  At Jordan Stream Baptist Church, Mother Wilson, again, became an influential and inspirational church leader.  Mother Wilson was a member of the finance committee, and she created Jordan Stream Baptist Church’s Annual Family Day Program, which hosted church members’ families and friends, consecutively, for 28-years, and annually brought families closer together, closer to God, and raising much needed funds for the church.

In addition to demonstrating her love and leadership within her family and church, Mother Wilson valued work, and worked throughout her career, most notably as a Cook at WEWS-TV 5 and employee at Ohio Bell (Ameritech), of where she retired. MaDear was an outstanding cook and baker, who loved to cook Sunday dinners, and she loved to watch the Cleveland Indians baseball team.

MaDear was a Queen and Matriarch of her family.  She was beautiful, kind, personable,  stylish, vibrant, wise, straightforward, fearless, lovable, and fun.  Mother Wilson loved God and Jesus, her family, her friends, and she loved her Jordan Stream Baptist Church and Gethsemane Baptist Church families.

Preceded in death by her husband, Rev. Lay Fred Wilson, and daughter, Rassie B. Johnson, at ninety-eight years old, Mother Wilson departed her earthly journey on November 16, 2021, and leaves to cherish her memory: one daughter, Esther M. Hale (Marvin); two sons, Elijah Council, Jr. (Barbara) and Bernard L. Wilson (Desiree); one sister, Lillie Hall of Tuskegee, Alabama; one sister-in-law, Lillie Darling; six grandchildren, Kenneth, Karen (Rodney), Carla, Charles, Chauncey, and Christian; seven great-grandchildren, Kelvin, Christopher, Rodney, Kenia, Rajaan, Kelton, and Kiera; one family daughter, Dorothy Parish (Charles) and family granddaughter, Rashonda (Ellis), and a host of nieces, nephews and other loving relatives and dear friends.

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