Lucille (Johnson) Wilder

Lucille Jones Wilder, 95, was called home to be with the Lord on Monday, May 29, 2023. She passed peacefully with family members by her side. Heaven has gained another angel. Margaret Lucille Johnson was born on August 13, 1927. Lucille graduated from Millbrook High School, class of 1947.  She enjoyed class reunions with classmates. As soon as one reunion was over, she was already preparing for the next one. The last reunion she attended for MHS class of 1947 was in 2019, her 68th reunion. Lucille and Garland were married on Christmas Eve, 1947 and spent nearly 45 years together before he passed away in 1992. After graduating from high school, she worked for DMV before starting a family and working with her husband in the family produce business. While raising her family, she worked the Fruit Stand on North Boulevard near Gresham’s Lake. Lucille and Garland built duplexes on Vineland Drive which she managed while Garland ran the produce business at the old Farmer’s Market in Raleigh. Lucille became a member of New Hope Baptist Church in Raleigh at age 17.  She was active in Sunday School, worship services and Keenagers. When she was no longer able to attend church in person, she enjoyed watching David Haley at Hayes Barton Baptist Church and Charles Stanley. She was also a member of Sunshine Seniors. Caring for others was important to her whether it was delivering food and comfort items to shut-ins, picking up friends to help them attend church, making lap robes and stringing beads with her sister and delivering them to nursing homes. She loved flowers and azaleas, but her favorites were white irises. She was loving, kind, caring and strong. She made sure her family never did without. Her children never heard her raise her voice. She cared for her mother, Bessie, in her home for the last 20 years of Bessie’s life. Lucille and Edley Wilder were married in Feb 1999. They enjoyed travel, senior clubs, dancing, cooking, family and friends. Lucille was a resident of Wendell, NC where she lived with her son and daughter in law.

A service to celebrate her life will be held 2:00 pm, Friday, June 2, 2022 at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service Chapel, 944 Old Knight Road, Knightdale. Burial will follow at New Hope Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive relatives and friends from 6:00 to 8:00 pm, Thursday, June 1, 2022 at L. Harold Poole Funeral Service & Crematory.

She is survived by daughters: Bonnie Smith of Raleigh, Peggy (Paul) Shearon of Knightdale; son, Steve (Cathy) of Wendell; grandchildren: Tammy Cryder, Kimberly (Amy) Shearon; great-granddaughter, Taylor Cryder; and sister, Rosalee Brunner of Clayton.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Eli and Bessie Johnson; brothers: Robert, Bob and Emmet Johnson; sisters: Lottie Pipkin, Thelma Hil; husbands: Garland Jones and Edley Wilder; and son, Michael Wayne Jones.

The family expresses much love and gratitude to Lucille’s medical team with special thanks for outstanding care to Dr. Glenndale Moore and his nurse, Christina.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St Jude Pl., Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

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