Joanna and I were so sorry to hear about Jay's passing.  He sure fought a tough fight and yet, always had a smile to share while in his company. Jay and I became friends when Dave and I played football for Norland.  His parents and my parents use to sit in the stands together.  Joanna and Jay were friends in high school. After high school and college we all remained friends.  Our family and Jay's family got together for different celebrations  and we would  also go and see Jay's son play basketball.  We so enjoyed our times with Joan and Jay and family. Over the years we have stayed in touch.  The lasts time we saw Jay was at one of our Norland Football lunches a couple of years back.  Jay will surely be missed by so many people.  Our sincere condolences and love to the Wilson family. 

To the Wilson Family

I go back with the Wilson Family through my friendship with David, Jay’s older Brother

David and I were High School Teammates as well as playing one year on an Amateur Football Team

Jay three years younger was an All Southeastern Player at Norland and then played at UM

While working with the Miami Dolphins I worked with Jay’s in laws and we became friends

Our friendship continued up to Jay’s passing and I was able to visit him a few weeks prior to Jay passing

You fought a great fight Jay and you now are with Joan and with your Parents

Sent with love

So sorry to hear about another student in our class. Sending prayers.
Libbie Blasberg Ornstein

Jay and I  worked together at AT & T,  he was a great Partner and  a true gentleman  always  had a smile on his face.  He will be Missed ! 

Rest in Peace my Partner!

Annie Gorayeb

I met Jay all the way back in high school.  Everyone knew he was one of the good guys.  He was a tough guy who helped us get the Gold Coast Conference Championship in our senior year at Norland High and went on to play for The University of Miami.   We kept in touch throughout the years and I got to see him at most of our high school reunions.  We're going to miss Jay, his big smile and his warm way of greeting everyone.  My deepest sympathies to his family.

Joan,
I will always remember Jay as one of Norland’s greatest athletes.  I will never forget his positive attitude and wonderful smile. 
      ........thoughts from my heart 
Please know how sorry I am for your loss. 
                                     With sincere sympathy,
                                       Tommy Hobbs

Dear Jim, Billy and Cathy,
We are so sorry to learn about the passing of your Dad.  Your family has given us so many cherished memories.   We loved watching you grow and sharing the fun stories about St. David Catholic School.   Your Mom and Dad were inspirations in our lives and certainly were role models for living their faith.   We hold you and them in our hearts and prayers. 
Love,
Don and Lee

In those quiet evenings, you and I shared, over those starlit beach nights… Your love, your eye contact and your words of wisdom to me engraved themselves on my heart. I will carry them close until my own sunset. May you be reunited with the gentle loving souls who preceded you. May you be at peace. I love you Uncle Jay. Love Stevie

(Part Two)

       For myself in particular, when I was young I always had problems telling my Uncles apart. Faces and families, easy. Names? Interchangeable. I’m sure other older family members have memories of me bungling that coin flip more than once, but today I think of the last. I remember going in for a hug, (a thanks for a gift he didn’t give me) and realizing I’d gotten the wrong brother. But instead of acknowledging any mistake on my part he hugged me really tight and said  “Oh wow! An extra hug! Thank you, Christina!” And even though I was still embarrassed, it was hard to dwell on it too long. The intonation of my name was said with such love and affection I can still hear it decades later. He was a truly great man, the kind that could make a child’s mistake feel like a win. 
    
    Years fly by; Cars change, houses are sold, football fields become pools, but the love remains.  We thank you for all our cherished memories. We thank you, most importantly, for the three beautiful, kind souls, that you and Aunt Joan helped shape. And finally I thank you, Uncle Jay, for the extra hugs. 

Love always, 
Irene, Steven and Christina 

Reflections of a little brothers family: 

         It’s always a struggle to know what to say in the face of such a loss. But after reading over the beautiful growing collage filled with a lifetime of brotherhood, love and family, we were inspired to add a few of our own. So here are a few recollections  from a sister-in law (that always felt like a real sister) and an adoring nephew and niece. 

         Station wagons and backyard football fields. As children, Grandma and Grandpas house was always fun and kind of mysterious. Ranging from serene to bustling depending on the company. But there was nothing quite like the magic and dynamism that took hold of the house when the Jay Wilson’s came to town. The house transformed over night: rooms that were always empty were filled (he even brought his own VCR!), somehow more football (in an already fanatic family) if not on the t.v. then a game in the backyard; good-humored sibling and sports team rivalry (a side of our dad, the bratty little brother, we didn’t often see), and constant laughter. Popular culture  associates station wagons with the Griswolds and Wally World, but we’ll always think of Uncle Jay and his family bringing all the flair of South Florida to Tally World. 

                           (Part one of two) 

Reflections from Jay’s little brother:

Mom and Dad, Grandma Waugh and our sister Mary, 8th Court, the old Norwood water tower, alter server and student at Visitation church and school, Miami New afternoon paper route, taking over Dave’s morning Herald paper route, the back porch and our only “liquid asset” the pool, the downstairs basement, Dave and Jay’s room, Dad’s “they don’t buy pipe” Office and our family great room, Norland Viking football, college recruitment letters and visits, signing scholarship to Miami, visits to Miami freshman dorm, players and games, becoming a Hurricane, 1965 Ford Galaxy 500 convertible, meeting Joan and the wonderful Hyde family, buying houses in the Norwood area, adding Jim, Bill, and Cathy, moving to Davie and Saint David’s, the Chaminade Madonna years and Jim signing with the “U”, for the winning years and so much more…

It has been great, Love Steve

What a shock. Gentle, thoughtful Jay. He was a foe on the football field and a friend at Southern Bell. We spent many lunches sharing and expanding on the glory days.  Godspeed old friend. 

Jay lived a life worth living.  I know he is in a better place resting in peace. My deepest sympathy  to his family .

To all who knew and loved this fabulous man, I wish you my deepest condolences.
He and I went to high school together and he was in many of my classes.
He will be missed by many. Try to find comfort in the knowledge that he is at true peace.
Linda (Harrison) Anderson

I will always have such fond memories of Jay, both from Visitation Catholic School and Miami Norland Sr. High. He was the most loving, caring, and fun person.  He will be missed. 

Uncle Jay… The God Father 

Growing up in Tallahassee, it was expected that  we drape ourselves in Garnet and Gold each Saturday. However, there was a young boy in the Tallahassee Wilson/Huff’s that covered himself in Green and Orange. Growing up, I loved the swagger of the U, I loved how much it upset my own family, but most of all I loved the smile of my Aunt Joan and Uncle Jay when they would roll into town and see “their Godson repping the south”. Although I did turncoat and become a Seminole through opportunity and alumni status, I still cherish the years we shared cheering on the U! 

Moving to South Florida after college led to many opportunities to hang out with my Aunt Joan and Uncle Jay, which I feel eternally blessed to have enjoyed!! I always love attending football games with my uncle Jay, especially the tailgates. This season,  I will be missing the banter with my GodFather 

Love ya Dude  - Your Godson Ryan

OBITUARY

James R Wilson Sr.

18 October, 1949 – 9 August, 2021

Forest Lawn Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens

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