Ms. Wilma C Wilkerson's Obituary
The funeral service for Ms. Wilkerson will be made available live stream today at 1 pm - if you are interested in viewing the service, please follow the link "https://webcast.funeralvue.com/events/embed_viewer/26161"
Wilma C Wilkerson celebrated her life from April 29, 1929 to March 13, 2020. She was born in Silom, TN and was the only daughter to the late Clarence and Beulah Wilkerson. “Wilma C” was a graduate of Westmorland High School Class of ’49. In 1951, She moved to Indianapolis, Indiana and started her career as an accountant for both the 7-Up Bottling company for 15 years and Ace Hardware for 12 years, while working nighttime as a Hostess in the Historic Stouffers Hotel and the roof top restaurant. In 1977, Wilma C moved back to Nashville and began working both as a Purchasing Agent with the Metro Development & Housing (MDHA) until her retirement in 1991, and a Hostess in Rachels Kitchen and later at Rhett’s Restaurant at the new Opryland Hotel, until her retirement from the Hotel 20 years later in 1997. In 1998, She worked as a Hostess for her “Son’s” restaurant, Monell’s, in Historic Germantown and was a key contributor to a couple of the house favorite recipes, including her sawmill gravy, still used today. Wilma C was widely known and recognized throughout the city as being a hostess and greeter at the Opryland Cracker Barrel for 15 years before retiring in 2019 at the age of 89. On August 6, 2014, Wilma C received the distinguished Star Award from the TN Hospitality and Tourism Association as the Outstanding Hospitality Employee of the Year for Middle Tennessee. She enjoyed traveling with her mother Beulah and managed to visit all continents but Australia. Her time to the Holy Land was by far her most memorable trip and enjoyed telling the story about her travels on a camel named Moses up Mount Sinai at 4 am, dressed, jewelry on and holding her purse to see the sunrise Wilma C was a member of Lincoya Baptist Church in Nashville Tennessee. She is survived by her close friends Jan Connell, Donna Wafford, her “Son” Michael King, extended relatives, friends, neighbors, and all those she welcomed with a smile, hug, or both. The family would like to express appreciation to Jason Faith, her caregiver for the last year and half, allowing Wilma C to stay in her beloved home, the Lincoya Baptist Church, Clarence Lee and Doug,her cousins and her sweet neighbors and friends for their love and support.
Visitation for Wilma will be held on Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 11:00 AM until 1:00 PM at which time a Celebration of Life Service will be conducted from the chapel of Spring Hill Funeral Home, 5110 Gallatin Road, Nashville, TN, 37216. Burial will follow in Bethpage Cemetery.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery, a Nashville landmark since 1785 “Where Nashville Comes to Remember”
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