James K Wilson

LEXINGTON - James Kermit Wilson, 89, was born in Spartanburg County on May 31, 1925 and passed away on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. He was a son of Annie Laura Bearden Wilson and Henry Grady Wilson, Sr. He attended Duncan High School and Clemson University, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in biological sciences in 1950. During the Second World War, he served in the Army Air Force in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater from 1944-1946 in the 20th Air Force. Jim and Sarah Louise Clinkscales were married in 1952. They began their life in Columbia, where Jim launched South Carolina’s first chemistry laboratory dedicated exclusively to assisting the state’s criminal justice agencies. He attended the FBI National Academy in 1956 in the 58th session. He was soon promoted to Captain to head the firearms, chemistry, polygraph and questioned documents labs at SLED. Jim was instrumental in acquiring a new four story, 50,000 square foot crime laboratory for SLED. He then became Deputy Director of SLED from 1986 until 1993 when he retired after 42 years. Major Wilson was honored as the 1971 SC Law Enforcement Officer of the year by the Columbia Exchange Club.

Jim represented the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers’ Association for 25 years in the Buck-A-Cup Project for the South Carolina Society for Children and Adults with Disabilities. He received the Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award, from Governor Carroll Campbell.

Jim was a charter member of Westminster Presbyterian Church where he served as both an elder and a deacon; participated in the Men’s Bible Class, and served as a Sunday School teacher. He was active in many associations, including the Executives’ Club, IPTAY, FBI National Academy Associates, and South Carolina Law Enforcement Officer Associates.

Major Wilson is preceded in death by his mother and father, sister, Edith Wilson DeShields, and brother, Henry Grady Wilson, Jr. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, “Ise”; daughters, Julia Ann Wilson Nichols (Howard) and Cynthia Lynn Wilson Zimmerman (Barry); grandchildren, Laura Wilson Nichols Hooper (Matt), Sarah Lynn Nichols Hutto (Jamie), Bradford James Zimmerman and Rachel Ann Zimmerman, and great-grandchildren, Tatum Wilson Hooper, Avery Mae Hooper, Lillian Hope Claire Hutto, Azel James Hutto V, and Rhett Earle Hooper.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Westminster Presbyterian Church Men’s Bible Class and colleagues from the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Westminster Presbyterian Church general fund at 1715 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210.

Funeral Services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 18, 2015, at Westminster Presbyterian Church conducted by the Rev. Dr. Carol Byrd and the Rev. Dr. Eric Skidmore. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon until 2:00 p.m. prior to the service at the church. Interment will be held in Woodridge Memorial Park. Caughman-Harman Funeral Home, Lexington Chapel is assisting the family with arrangements.