Obituary of Florence Wilson

Florence was a lifelong resident of Camden, NJ. She was born on February 25, 1917.

She was the fifth of fourteen children born to the late Joseph and Marie Wilson. Florence had

one son, Nelson “Pud” Wilson, who departed this life at an early age. She was a caring and

loving mother, grandmother, sister, aunt and friend.

Florence always had a great love for her family and especially the children. She was

known to be a big kid at heart. At the family gatherings, the children were elated to be in her

company. Florence always had a new game that she was teaching the children.

She attended an integrated elementary school and continued her education in a

segregated middle and high school. Although there was a junior high school around the corner,

African American children had to walk a mile past the neighborhood school to their own school.

Florence is an alumni of Camden High School class of 1937.

Her work career began on February 13

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, 1942. The timeline of her career started with

the NYA Youth Administration, training on the sewing machine, later the Marine Corps, then to

Quartermasters located at 2100 S 20

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Street, Philadelphia, PA. She was very proud of her job

and held one of the highest paid positions as an Industrial Engineering Technician. Florence

retired on June 21, 1974.

Florence joined Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church under the pastorate of Reverend George

Morris. She was an active and supportive member of the Kaighn Avenue Baptist Church for over

eighty years. Florence was a member of the finance committee and under the leadership of that

committee they presented the church with a plan to pay the mortgage off in seven years. It was

a success. She started a tape ministry at the church. Florence seized an opportunity to train

the youth of the church to record and duplicate the tapes of the services. Due to illness, she

was unable to attend church. However, she believed in supporting her church. Florence was a

humble servant and gives credit to her God for the many blessings he has bestowed upon her.

The song writer said it best for her, “If I can help somebody as I pass along then my living shall

not be in vain”.

Florence leaves to cherish her memories, two granddaughters, Sherra Cave-Howell (Louis),

Jacqueline Fussell, four great-grandchildren, Louis Howell, Kiera Howell, Latoya English,

William Leeper, two great-great grandchildren, Jerome Beasley, Deyonney J. Batts, two sisters

Bonita Adkins, and Jeanne Fisher, honorary daughter Irma Moody-Jackson, and a host of

nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. She was predeceased in death by her son Nelson “Pud”

Wilson, four brothers, Joseph, Vincent, Kenwood and Earl Wilson, seven sisters, Beatrice

Wilson, Grace Wilson, Geneva Wilson, Hazel Chadwick, Edna Smith, Lois Smith and Doris

Wilson.