Thomas Lee Wilson Jr.

COLUMBIA, TN a?" Thomas Lee Wilson, Jr., 79, resident of Columbia, TN, died Tuesday, February 27, 2007 at the National Healthcare Center-Hillview, Columbia, TN. Born on December 7, 1927 in Gastonia, NC, he was the son of the late Thomas Lee Wilson, Sr. and Nellie Rose Sloan Wilson and the grandson of Mr. and Mrs. Ezra Lee Wilson and Dr. and Mrs. James Marshall Sloan, Sr. He was baptized in the First Presbyterian Church of Gastonia, NC on July 1, 1928 and joined the church on June 4, 1939. Following graduation from Erskine College in 1954 with a bachelor of arts degree and in 1957 from the Erskine Theological Seminary with a bachelor of divinity degree, Rev. Wilson began a long and fruitful career as a minister in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. He was licensed and ordained in the Tennessee-Alabama Presbytery on October 26, 1957 at the Prosperity Church in Alabama and served pastorates at the Hopewell Church, Culleoka, TN and Union Grove Cumberland Presbyterian Church. He retired from service to the denomination in 1988. Rev. Wilson served on many denominational boards and committees, including the Erskine College Board of Trustees. Without seeking any public recognition, Rev. Wilson supported a wide variety of philanthropic interests including theological studies, the arts and literature. Survivors are his sister, Eleanor Rose Wilson Lawing and her husband, Bob of Gastonia, NC; and nephews, Robert Wilson Lawing and his wife, Lynn, along with their children Joseph Robert Lawing and Christine Rose Lawing all of Troy, NC, and David Lee Lawing and his wife, Amy of Gastonia, NC. His surviving cousins include Dr. William Danford Wilson and Dorothy Wilson McKenzie, both of Gastonia, NC, Virginia Wilson Campbell of Hilton Head, SC, Carolyn Wilson Holzgrap of Southern Pines, NC, Elizabeth Wilson Luther of Midlothian, VA, Dr. James Marshall Sloan III, Asheville, NC and Samuel Robinson Sloan of Charlotte, NC. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at 3:00 p.m. at the Due West Associated Reformed Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Due West, SC. The Rev. Dr. Ray A. King and the Rev. Dr. Randall T. Ruble will officiate. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorials be made to the Pearl Wilson Missionary Fund at the First Presbyterian Church, 1621 East Garrison Blvd., Gastonia, NC 28054. The Oaks and Nichols Funeral Home, Columbia, TN and Harris Funeral Home, Abbeville, SC will assist the family.