In Loving Memory
Deacon Earl Wilson, Jr.
March 28, 1930 — April 23, 2026
Humphrey · Arkansas
“A bridge between past and present — holding firm to what was built before him, and passing it forward.”
Keepsake
Download Printable Obituary
A one-page PDF keepsake — print or share.
Prefer the on-screen version? Open printable view
Featured Tribute
A Tribute in His Honor
A tribute video will be unveiled
Friday Evening, May 1, 2026 · 7:00 PM Central
In Memoriam
Born
Deacon Earl Wilson, Jr., age 96, of Humphrey, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Baptist Medical Center, Little Rock, under the watchful care of his daughter Dr. Faye Wilson, who was rejoined within minutes by his daughter JoLinda Smith and granddaughter Yalaunda Billingsley.
He was born on March 28, 1930, in Humphrey to the late Earl Wilson, Sr. and Willie Thompson-Wilson. He, along with his sole sibling Gracie Smith (deceased), was raised on family land rooted in a rich heritage established generations before him — a legacy that remained central to his life and identity.
At an early age, Earl developed a strong work ethic, beginning labor as a young boy and continuing throughout his life. He attended school through the eleventh grade before stepping away to work and help support his family. His life was marked by resilience, determination, and a deep commitment to responsibility.
He celebrated his 96th birthday on March 28, 2026, surrounded by family — a final gathering of laughter, prayer, and presence before his journey home.
“The land he would not sell. The work he would not abandon. The name his generations now carry forward.”
In Memoriam
Life Work
Throughout his life, he worked as a farmer, carpenter, and contractor — known for his skill, reliability, and strong hands that helped build both structures and stability for those around him.
For more than 65 years, he served as a Deacon and Head Deacon for Bayou Meto and the First Missionary Baptist Church of Humphrey.
He spent more than 40 years working at Circle T Duck Club, where he was deeply respected by all who worked alongside him. He shared numerous stories of his journey at the “Duck Club” that sparked both interest and curiosity — his favorite was his little friend, Austin Smith, following him around.
He adopted his longtime colleague and friend C.S. Frazier’s saying, “I’m doing good — like a young fella should,” and responded with it almost daily until his memory could no longer hold it.
Deacon Wilson led the renovation of the First Missionary Baptist Church of Humphrey and built and remodeled several properties throughout the communities of Humphrey and Stuttgart.
He was a man of many stories — stories of the land, of hard work, of family, and of the generations who came before him. He cherished time spent with close friends including Bobby Ables, Ann Hatch, Dora Driver, and his old buddy C.S. Frazier (deceased), who shared in his memories and moments throughout the years.
Even as his health declined in later years, his life remained a testament to endurance. His journey reflected both the strength and the challenges of aging with Dementia, yet through it all, he remained anchored in the legacy he helped preserve.
In Memoriam
The Legacy of the Land
The story of his grandfather, John Wesley Thompson, is chronicled in “Earl Wilson Jr. and the Legacy of Freedom: The Journey of John Wesley Thompson’s Land — The 136 Years of a Black Owned Farm in Arkansas,” available on Amazon.
In 2023, on his very first visit to the state capitol, he was honored by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders for receiving the Century Farm Award. With his characteristic wit, he was famously quoted as saying, “Who was that woman?”
Deacon Earl’s life represents more than years lived — it reflects over a century of generational legacy tied to land, family, and perseverance.
In December 2023, the family gathered for a Mortgage Burning Ceremony — watching the deed burn together as a joyful affirmation of everything he stood for: land kept in the family, debts honored, and a heritage passed forward unbroken.
In February 2024, the legacy he carried was honored on the floor of the Arkansas House of Representatives during Black History Month, when State Representative Jeremiah Moore of District 61 recognized the Wilson-Thompson family before the assembly — affirming, in the chamber where Arkansas writes its laws, what generations of Wilsons had already written into the soil of Humphrey: that this land, and this name, belong to history.
Arkansas State Capitol · February 2024
Rep. Jeremiah Moore honors the Wilson-Thompson family during Black History Month.
In Memoriam
Marriage
On November 18, 1948, he was united in marriage to Enola McNeal, who preceded him in death on September 21, 2013. Their union was blessed with thirteen children.
Married for nearly 65 years, their devotion to one another was the foundation upon which their family was built.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl Wilson, Sr. and Willie Thompson-Wilson; his sister, Gracie Smith; his beloved wife, Enola McNeal Wilson; and four of his cherished children — James Wilson, Michael Wilson, Burnestine Starks, and Sharon Oates.
In Memoriam
Family
His Beloved Children
JoAnn McGregor
— Raymond †
Children
Mytrece · Bobby · Ben · Tabitha
JoLinda Smith
— Cortez †
Children
Hazel · Christopher
Gardenia Graham
— Herbert
Children
Octavia
James Wilson†
Carolyn Miller
— Cornel
Children
Daniel · Lawarance · Jack
Dr. Faye Wilson
David Wilson
Children
Dana · Yalaunda
Michael Wilson†
Burnestine Starks†
— Rickey Sr.
Children
Rickey Jr. · Avery · Richard
Barbara Cornelius
— Gary
Children
Bryant · Gabrina
Sharon Oates†
— David
Children
Chantae · Shawn · Nicara
Cynthia Wilson
Kathy Williams
— Mansfield Everett
Children
Lonnika · Victory · Joy · Jeremiah
Extended Family
A Devoted Nephew
Michael McNeal
A Special Cousin & Friend
Rev. Booker T. Wilson
Cherished Companions
- Bobby Ables
- Ann Hatch
- Dora Driver
He is further survived by a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, and great-great-great-grandchildren, as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family members, and friends.
In Memoriam
The Family Tree
Tap a name to reveal the children carrying his legacy forward.
JoAnn McGregor— Raymond (deceased)4 children
- Mytrece
- Bobby
- Ben
- Tabitha
JoLinda Smith— Cortez (deceased)2 children
- Hazel
- Christopher
Gardenia Graham— Herbert1 child
- Octavia
- James Wilson
Carolyn Miller— Cornel3 children
- Daniel
- Lawarance
- Jack
- Dr. Faye Wilson
David Wilson2 children
- Dana
- Yalaunda
- Michael Wilson
Burnestine Starks— Rickey Sr.3 children
- Rickey Jr.
- Avery
- Richard
Barbara Cornelius— Gary2 children
- Bryant
- Ga Brina
Sharon Oates— David3 children
- Chantae
- Shawn
- Nicara
- Cynthia Wilson
Kathy Williams— Mansfield Everett4 children
- Lonnika
- Victory
- Joy
- Jeremiah
Photographs
Moments & Memories
A living archive of family, faith, and the land that raised him.
Loading the album…
In Memoriam
Acknowledgments
Special Friends
- Judy Terrell
- Chuck Smith
- Elizabeth Heffett
- Virginia Worthy
- Rev. Charles Boyd
- Mike Crum
- George Dunklin
- Apostle Victor Johnson
- Bobby Ables
The family extends heartfelt thanks to all of the amazing caregivers of Unit 1023 at Baptist Hospital, Little Rock, as well as the host of doctors, nurses, and chaplains who provided care in the ER, Hospice, and Palliative Care.
A Tribute to Their Care
“You put the ‘caring’ back in healthcare.”
Leave a Tribute
Guestbook
Share a memory, a kind word, or a quiet moment of comfort with the family.
Tributes Left in His Memory
Loading tributes…
A Quiet Gesture
In His Memory
The family is at peace and in need of nothing.
For those who feel moved to honor him with a contribution in his memory, your gift will be received with quiet gratitude.
Personal gift to the Wilson family · not tax-deductible
In Memoriam
Service of Remembrance
Date
Saturday
May 2, 2026
Location
First Missionary Baptist Church
205 North Oak Street
Humphrey, AR 72073
Schedule
Lie in State — 9:00 AM
Celebration of Life — 10:00 AM