Donald Don Reid Wilson

He was born on April 14, 1937, to the late Carl Reid and Kathryn Ashley Wilson, in Charlotte, NC. Don graduated from Charlotte Central High School and attended Presbyterian College, Clinton, SC. After serving in the US Navy, Don graduated from The Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science and was a licensed funeral director and embalmer in the State of North Carolina.

On July 13th, 1957, Don was united in marriage to Anne Swaim, of Winston-Salem, NC. He interrupted his funeral service career for several years as he worked in pharmaceutical sales. On Sept. 11, 1980, Don purchased Miller and Kerns Funeral Home, and established Miller, Kerns, and Wilson. He later purchased the current Albemarle Road property and re-established the business as Wilson Funeral Service.

Service and leadership was a very important part of Don’s life. He was a life member of Optimist International, past President of the NC Funeral Directors Association, and past President of the NC Board of Mortuary Sciences. He was also a former commissioner of the Mint Hill Town Board and past President of the Mint Hill Historical Society. Don was a member of Mint Hill Masonic Lodge #742, Scottish Rite, Oasis Shrine, Oasis Golf Club, The Royal Court of Jesters, and Pine Lake Country Club. Don was a lifelong member and Elder of Plaza Presbyterian Church, Charlotte, a commissioned Stephen Ministry Leader, and more recently, a member and Elder of Benton Heights Presbyterian Church, Monroe, NC. Don was a recent graduate of University of Dubuque Theological Seminary (online program). He was received by the Presbytery of Charlotte in 2005 as a Commissioned Lay Pastor. In his free time, Don enjoyed time with his family, his beach house, reading, woodworking, golf, and gardening in his yard.

In his retirement, Don spent much of his time building and growing Masons Helping Children. Alongside Jim Adams, Mack Archer, Junior Harward, and Max Walker, Don worked tirelessly to spread the word and educate the public about Shrine Hospitals and The Masonic Home for Children. In Don’s words, “You know as well as I do that the life blood of any organization is its members and that is especially true with our Masonic Fraternity. We are men who together identify with children who do not have a safe home and good meals to come home to, children who can’t get it together in a learning environment, but should not be left behind, children who have spinal disorders, cleft palates, and the crippled and burned children, have all been identified as OUR KIDS.” For several years now, these men host a booth at local fall festivals including Matthews Alive, Mint Hill Madness, Midland Magic, and Waxhaw Autumn Treasures, to bring public awareness to this help that is available.

Preceding Don in death was his first wife of 38 years, Anne Swaim Wilson. He is survived by his wife, Margaret (Maggie) Wilson, of the home. Others left to cherish his memory are daughter and husband, Melissa and Steve Moore, of Jamestown, NC; daughter and husband, Donna and John Earnhardt, of Monroe, NC; four grandchildren, Ashley and Adam Moore, and Emily and Morgan Earnhardt; sister, Carolyn Wilson of Nashville, TN; nephew, Ron Matthews, of Nashville, TN; and many other relatives and close friends.

Our family would like to thank Dr. Alfred Newman III and staff of Matthews Hematology Oncology; Dr. Gregory Busse and staff of Matthews Internal Medicine; Stress Free Home Care (especially Yassa Washington), and Presbyterian Hospice and Palliative Care for their help and support.

The family will receive friends on Friday, June 15, 2012, 6:00 – 8:00pm, at Wilson Funeral Service, 5301 Albemarle Road, Charlotte. A Celebration of Life Service for Donald Reid Wilson will be Saturday, June 16, 2012 at 11:00am, at Benton Heights Presbyterian Church, 2701 Concord (Hwy 601) Highway, Monroe, NC. Burial will follow at Sharon Memorial Park, Charlotte. Immediately following the burial, all family and friends are invited to a celebration BBQ at Benton’s Cross Roads Baptist Church, 109 East Lawyer’s Rd., Monroe, located at the intersection of Concord Hwy (601) and Lawyer’s Rd. (Do not confuse this with Benton Heights Presbyterian, where the funeral service is being held.)

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to The Masonic Home for Children at Oxford, 600 College Street, Oxford NC 27565 or to Masons Helping Children of Charlotte Scottish Rite, c/o Junior Harwood, 1402 Oakwood Ave., Kannapolis, NC 28081.

Online condolences may be made at www.wilsonfuneralservices.com.