Joseph B. Wilson

Joseph Bernold Wilson was born the son of the late Bithel Nabotha and Bertha Ann Wilson, in Pitt County, Greenville, North Carolina. Joseph was affectionately known as the “baby of the family”; raised on the Wilson farm and educated in the Pitt County Public School System, attending Cherry Lane School in Greenville, N.C. Joseph, was the last of nine children to take flight. Joseph is preceded in death by his two sisters: Ella Lee Watt and Myrtle Jenkins and six brothers; Jessie Wilson, Fred Wilson, Barceil Wilson, Moses Wilson Sr., Roamie Wilson, and William Amos Wilson. Being the youngest child, his greatest assignment was taking care of his mother who had asthma and since the family migrated north to Baltimore, Joseph and his mother journeyed to Baltimore as well. In 1953, Joseph decided to join the U.S. Army and served his country from 1953 to 1955. While in the Army, he served in the Korean War and after his term in the military, he returned to Baltimore. Upon returning home, Joseph became a licensed Master barber and, also found employment with the Bethlehem Steel Company in Sparrows Point. On July 30, 1994, after 44 years, 3 months and 12 days, Joseph decided to retire from Bethlehem Steel with no regrets. On December 21, 1957, Joseph married his beloved Patsy Moore and they lived a full, happy life until Patsy’s untimely death in 1986. To their union, there were blessed with one daughter, JoAnn Wilson Golphin Barnes, who also took flight before her dad, whom she loved dearly. JoAnn had two children, Anita Golphin and Frederick (Freddy) Brown ho also preceded his grandfather in death. In 1961, Joseph recognized the need for the Lord and under conviction he made up his mind that he would not go into another year without God in his life. He was led to Christ by his wife and was saved at St. Paul Apostolic Holiness Church (a.k.a. Behold Ministries and THE MIX) then located on Broadway, under the leadership of the late Pastor E.G. Gilliam, Sr and the late Asst. Pastor Roy Spence. Joseph received the Holy Ghost in the basement of his East 22nd home in January 1962 and in 1973 he was ordained as an Elder. Elder JB also served as a member of the Ministerial Board, Deacon/Trustee Board, first Treasurer and a long-standing member of the Virginia Avenue Prayer Group. He was also faithful in serving Pastor Winnie Gilliam as her driver on many Sundays. You may have heard him often say, “I’m saved from the crown of my head to the sole of my feet”. Elder JB was instrumental in leading souls to Christ, one being his lifetime friend and biological brother William Amos Wilson. Once he came to the Lord, he immediately began witnessing to his brother until he surrendered to Christ. They were extremely close and even more once they both started walking in the same direction. Elder JB favorite scriptures was Psalm 23 and one of his favorite sayings was “I may feel like a young man but I ain’t gonna act like one”. Elder JB will be deeply missed. He leaves to mourn in his passing his faithful caretakers, his Brother-in-law: Raymond E. Moore, Sr and Sister-in-law: Thedora Moore and Sherba (Huff) Bostic; one Granddaughter: Anita Golphin; four Grandchildren: Alicia, Milan, Bryce, and George III; two Great-Grandchildren: Latiesha and Calvin Jr. and two Great-Great Grandchildren: Charles and Anthony; two more Sister-in-laws: Carrie McCoy and Fannie Perkins, two more Brother-in-laws: Charlie Moore (Edna) and Willie Warren Moore (Mary Francis); several God-children, a host of Nieces, Nephews, other Relatives and dear friends

Tributes

Joseph B. Wilson

July 26, 1932 - September 29, 2020