Mr. Samuel M. Wilson

THE PRELUDE Samuel Malachie Wilson was born on July 11, 1930, in Miami, Florida to the parents of the late Reverend Nathaniel and Susie Wilson (nee Freeman). He spent his formative years in the Miami Public School System. In 1947 he graduated from Booker T. Washington Senior High School in Miami, Florida. After completing high school, he received a full basketball scholarship to one of the most prestigious private Historical Black Colleges; Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida. In 1951, he received a bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a minor in Mathematics. After graduating from college, he joined the United States Airforce and served in the Korean War from 1951 to1953. He was honorably discharged, June 27, 1955. In 1956 after serving his country, he moved to Milwaukee, WI where he met and married Martha Jean Purifoy, to which five children were born (The Wilson Girls). During his journey through life, Samuel was gainfully employed with the United States Postal Service, Prudential lnsuronce Company, and after 20 years of service, retired from the City of Milwaukee as an Accountant. OUR FATHER Our father was larger than life and enjoyed looking and smelling good. He also told his girls to always look their best. His trademark was his aviator shades and his brim hats. He had a loud voice that commanded a room, and he had a way of always making people feel good about themselves. He always said he had the prettiest girls in Milwaukee, especially when we dressed for church. Some of his favorite pastimes were watching sports, reading the newspaper, dancing, talking to neighbors, listening to local disc jockey's Dr. Bop and OC White, going to Taylor's Bar, playing the lottery, and hanging with his brother in laws, Otis Purifoy, James Zolliecoffer Sr. and Roy Davis Sr. He loved playing cards and taught his girls at a very young age to count by playing "Tunk" for money. He would often say that if you can't count, you will be a big dummy and people will take your money. Our father was stern, confident, opinionated, and highly intelligent. Never using a calculator, he was always accurate with numbers, and he often helped us with our math homework. Our dad took pride in taking us to the library to read and check out books. He also attended parent/teacher conferences and always checked our report cards. Most of us had excellent report cards except .... never mind. Our dad would read the daily newspaper from cover to cover and could speak fluently on any subject whether it was politics, religion, race relations, or crime . He was tremendously proud of his African American culture and exposed us at a very young age to subscriptions of Ebony, Essence, and Jet magazines. His favorite part of the Jet was looking at the "Jet Beauty of The Week". THE LEGACY Samuel was preceded in death by his parents, Rev. Nathaniel and Susie Wilson, his favorite Aunt Mamie Wilson and his good friend Attorney Orville Pitts. He leaves to cherish his memories and to live out his legacy his five daughters, Valerie Willis of Houston, TX, Sherree Wilson of Atlanta, GA, Debbie Wilson of Houston, TX, Vickie (Kevin) Oglesby of Miami, FL, and Kimberly Sartin of Atlanta, GA. He is further survived by nine grandchildren, Takila (Stavon) Johnson, Jillvonni McCoy, Jasmine (Daniel) Jandrlich, Greggory Samuels, Alvin Boyd, Ralph Willis II, Ashley Sartin, Asia Sartin, and Kira Oglesby. Seven great grandchildren, Autumn Johnson, Amiyah Johnson, Avah Johnson, Harmonie Samuels, Ariel Jandrlich, Ayden Jandrlich, and Ajla Jandrlich. Two special sisters in laws Lucille Zolliecoffer and Annie Mae Bossier, and a host of nieces, nephews, and friends.

Mr. Samuel M. Wilson

July 11, 1930 - August 25, 2022