Alice Edmondson Wilson

Alice Edmondson Wilson, 90, of Fountain’s Crossroads in Edgecombe County, went to be with her heavenly Father on Monday, March 9, 2020 at Vidant Edgecombe.  ­­­She was born on February 26, 1930 in Martin County to Roy Sutton and Louise Matthews Edmondson and was married to James Floyd “Sam” Wilson, Jr.  

Alice graduated from Oak City High School in 1948.  She married Sam on June 26, 1952 and became a homemaker and kept the books for Sam’s farm, Wilson Farms.  She also worked for Clarks Tobacco Warehouse and was the owner of her own insurance company, A. E. Wilson Insurance Agency. 

Alice’s faith and the love she had for her Lord was important to her.  She instilled that faith and love for Jesus in her family and friends.  Each time she gave her grand-nieces and nephews any money, she would always ask them, “Where does 10% go?”.  Alice was a member of the Oak City Baptist Church where she served as Sunday School teacher and was a pianist for 12 years.  She became a member of Johnson Memorial Presbyterian Church and attended First Baptist Church in Tarboro.

Alice also had a deep love for North Carolina and her country.  She served many political and civic organizations.  Alice served as an alternate delegate to the 1968 National Democratic Convention and served on the National Democratic Platform Committee in 1972.  Alice was the first woman appointed to the Edgecombe County Planning Board in 1975 and served as Vice-Chairperson when reappointed in 1979.  She was elected District Director for Women’s Activities for the 2nd Congressional District in 1975 and 1977.  Alice worked tirelessly in Edgecombe County serving the Edgecombe County Young Democrats, Edgecombe County Democratic Party and helped to reorganize the Democratic Women of Edgecombe County.

Alice helped organize and served as Executive Director and Secretary of the Tarboro United Fund from 1959-1968.  She was elected to the Board of Directors of the EMC-EMC in 1979.  Alice was one of ten women elected to the Women’s Action Standing Committee in the National Rural Electrification Association for the purpose of establishing policy and decision making.  Alice was appointed by Governor Dan Moore in 1965 to the Governor Morehead School for the Blind Board of Directors and was reappointed during the terms of Governor Robert Scott and Governor James B. Hunt, Jr.  Alice was an advocate for health care and was appointed to serve on the Pittman Memorial Health Clinic Board, the Community Medicine Foundation in Edgecombe County and was a representative for the Edgecombe County Easter Seals.  She was a member of the Pilot Club of Tarboro and the Edgecombe County Garden Club and enjoyed the many activities and friendships she developed as a member.  She served many volunteer hours in her life for various civic and political organizations and was awarded the North Carolina Governor’s Volunteer Award among many other honors for her service to others.

Alice was pre-deceased by her parents and her beloved husband, who she lovingly referred to as “Big Sam.”  She was also pre-deceased by her brother, Roy Sutton Edmondson, Jr.  She is survived by her sisters, Cherry Hampton, of Oak City and Leiwana “Tieny” Rawls, also of Oak City, and sister-in-law, Claire Whitehurst of Tarboro.  She is also survived by her nieces and nephews, Marilyn Hesser (Doug), Lawrence Rawls (Julie), Sutton Edmondson (Wanda), Abbey Whitford, Billy Hampton (Julie) and the many nieces and nephews she shared with “Uncle Big Sam”, Jay, Ray, Sam, Ted, Diane, Kathy, and Jennifer.  Alice is also survived by her great nieces and nephews, Elizabeth, Hannah, Mary (Caleb), Sarah, Erin (Sean), Matthew, Hank (Katelyn), Andrew, Schuyler, Seth, Milly, Ellie and great-great nephew, Henry.  

Alice’s final years were spent in declining health and she had many caregivers that also survive her, Brenda Grant, Janice Williams, Patricia Bobbitt, Elizabeth Pitt, Gloria Hyman, and Rosemarie Higgs. Her family would like to thank them for all of their love, support, and care for Alice through the years.

A celebration of Alice’s life will be held at the Oak City Baptist Church on Thursday, March 12 at 2:00pm officiated by Rev. Delmus Ayers.  Interment will be in Greenwood Cemetery, Tarboro, immediately following the service.  Visitation will be held at the Oak City Baptist Church, Wednesday, March 11 from 6:30 – 8:00.  The family will receive friends at other times at the home of her sisters’ at 104 Highway 11, Oak City. 

Memorial contributions may be made to the Oak City Baptist Church, PO Box 39, Oak City, NC 27857 or to the Edgecombe County Veterans Military Museum, PO Box 115, Tarboro, NC, 27886.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Alice Edmondson Wilson, please visit our floral store.