Obituary

Henrie Pearl Wilson
April 23, 1920 - February 19, 2017


Mrs. Henrie Pearl Dyson Wilson was born to the late Elder T. C. Dyson and Easter Dyson April 23, 1920 in Franklinton, Louisiana. Mrs. Wilson family of origin consisted of twelve children. After the early death of her mother in 1928, she was reared by Sister Gracie O. Dyson with the support of her very large Dyson sibling clan. At an early age, she joined Sweet Home Church of Christ Holiness pastored by Reverend McKennis. She graduated from Washington Parish High School and attended Southern University for two years. She was married to the Late Rev. Albert Robert Wilson and to this union five children were born. She joined Sweet Rest Baptist Church in 1950 and remained faithful until her death. Mrs. Wilson supported her husband’s ministry and assisted him with the development of a community church in Franklinton. She was very involved in the ministry of Oak Grove Baptist Church in Folsom, Louisiana.
During the years of her life she was active in many areas. Her many positions were namely; a Sunday school teacher for forty-six years, president of senior mission, matron of the junior mission, and a member of the church choir at her church. She was president of of the Third District Bogue Chitto Mission; number one for twenty-nine years, a teacher in the District Sunday school and B.T. U. Congress, vice president of the mission number 1 in the Louisiana and Foreign Mission Baptist State Convention.
She served as the director over the talent program in the Sunday school convention, assistant secretary of the Ideal Women’s Club, organizer of the Above 60 Women’s Ministry of Sweet Rest Baptist Church, an insurance agent for Purple Shield Life Insurance Company, worked for the Housing Project for Franklinton, and worked for the Louisiana Food Stamp Program. She was recognized repeatedly for high performance and excellence while working at Purple Shield. She served on the Board of Managers of Good Samaritan Nursing Home.
Sister Wilson loved spiritual poetry, dramatic theatre and contemporary spiritual dance. She wrote religious plays which were acted out at Sweet Rest Baptist church and at other churches. She helped younger members of the church to develop their public speaking skills. Her favorite writers Mayo Angelou, Rev. Martin Luther King, and Alfred Lord Tennyson. She enjoyed politics and help to elect politicians that represented her Christian values and supported equality for all. She organized the Rev. A. J. Manning Scholarship Fund at Sweet Rest which was named after her late nephew and former pastor. The fund assisted youth financially if they pursued college. She believed in higher education and her favorite saying was “if a man empties his purse into his head, no man can take it away from him. An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest” by Benjamin Franklin. Sister Wilson believed Christianity required Christians to be involved in their community in order to improve the quality of life of its members.
After reaching an old age, she felt that her main duty in life was tell men and women the whole truth about living a life that would be pleasing to God. She did not want to live a life in vain. She lived a very fulfilled life with all members of the Franklinton community.
She leaves her only surviving child, Dr. Rodgers McKinley Wilson of Phoenix, Arizona and her only surviving sister, Sister Velma Dyson Magee of New Orleans, Louisiana. Her late children included Rayfield Wilson, Roma Jean Wilson Thurman, Rev. Roland McCoy Wilson, and Ronald Scott Wilson. She leaves two comforting daughter-in- laws that became daughters, Dorothy Young Wilson, and Rose LeDay Wilson. She leaves numerous grandchildren, great grandchildren, and great great grandchildren. She was a woman of God, a missionary, a mother, a wife, a social and political activist. Her joyous life was well lived.
Visitation will be Friday, February 24, 2017, 2:00PM-4:00PM at Crain and Sons Funeral Home- Franklinton. The family hour will be 5:00PM-7:00PM at Sweet Rest Missionary Baptist Church with Rev Jerome Warren, officiating.
The funeral service will be 2:00PM Saturday, February 25, 2017 at Sweet Rest Missionary Baptist Church with Rev. Mallery Callahan pastor, officiating. The interment will be in Sweet Home Cemetery. Crain and Sons Funeral Home-Franklinton in charge of arrangements.