REV. RICHARD WOODROW WILSON, the son of the late Angeline D. Surley and Elder Samuel A. Wilson, was born in Petersburg, Virginia.
He accepted the Lord Jesus Christ at an early age, was baptized and became a member of the Union Baptist Church, Hopewell, Virginia.
He attended public schools in Newark and East Orange, New Jersey. After being called and licensed to preach the Gospel, he attended the National Bible Institute of New York City. He attended the Evangel Theological Institute, Newark, New Jersey. His college and Seminary work was completed at Virginia Seminary and college, Lynchburg, Virginia with a Bachelor of Theology Degree. He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry at the Peaceful Baptist Church, Lynchburg, Virginia.
He served as the pastor for several churches in Virginia locales before moving to the Eastern Shore.
For the past fifty years he has served as pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church, Wardtown, Virginia and for the past forty-seven years he has served as pastor of First Baptist Church, Cape Charles, Virginia. Along with serving two full-time churches, Rev. Wilson has been active in both religious and civic affairs. He has served as moderator of Eastern Shore Virginia-Maryland Baptist Association, president of Northampton County N.A.A.C.P., president of Northampton County Voters League, member of Eastern Shore Ministers Alliance, Eastern Shore Baptist Ministers Conference, Auxiliary of Cape Charles Police Department, Eastern Shore Literacy Council, and many other organizations to which he devoted much time and energy.
During his very involved career, Rev. Wilson received honorary degrees: from Virginia Seminary in 1970 the Doctor of Divinity; from American University of Graduate Studies in 1978 the Master’s Degree in Life Experiences and from the Virginia University in Lynchburg in 1997 the Doctor of humane Letters.
He was a great lover of poetry, which he often recited. The welfare of young people was very dear to his heart. He also enjoyed the great outdoors and fishing.
At the end of a busy and illustrious life, Rev. Wilson succumbed to the will of God June 13, 2002 and peacefully entered the realm of eternal rest at his residence in Hare Valley, Virginia.
He leaves to remember him: wife, Marie S. Wilson; two sons, Richard A. Wilson, Sr. and Alfred D. Wilson, Sr., both of Richmond, Virginia; four grandchildren; five great grandchildren; two brothers, Samuel Gilliam, Aberdeen, Maryland and Russell Fox, New Jersey; a number of other relatives and many friends. - The Family
Twenty-Third Psalm
By an Oklahoma Indian
The Great Father Above
A Shepherd Chief is.
I am His and with Him I want not.
He throws out to me a rope and the name of the rope is Love
and He draws me to where the grass is green
and the water not dangerous.
And I eat, I drink, I lie down and I am satisfied.
Sometime my heart is very weak and falls down
but He lifts me up again and draws me into a good road.
His name is Wonderful.
Sometime, it may be very soon, it may be a long, long, long time,
He will draw me into a valley.
It is very dark there, but I’ll be afraid not,
for it is in between those mountains
that the Shepherd Chief will meet me.
And the hunger that I have in my heart
all through this life will be satisfied.
He gives me a staff to lean upon,
He spreads a table before me with all kinds of foods.
He puts His hand upon my head and all the “tired” is gone.
My cup He fills till it runs over. What I tell is true. I lie not.
These roads that are”Away Ahead” will stay with me
through this life and after;
and afterwards I will go to live in the Big Tepee
and sit down with the SHEPHERD CHIEF forever.
Deacons
First Baptist Church, Cape Charles
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Wardtown
Foral Bearers
Deaconesses
First Baptist Church, Cape Charles
Ebenezer Baptist Church, Wardtown
With deep appreciation and heartfelt thanks, the family acknowledges your presence today, as well as all expressions of kindness and sympathy. A very special “thank you” to Betty Stanley, Sylvia Stanley, Shirley Galloway, Jeffery Walker and close neighbors and friends for the care and helpfulness rendered. May God bless each of you always. -The Family