Edna K. Wilkerson, passed away October 8, 2022 at The Blake of Lafayette in Lafayette, La. She was 105 years old. Edna was born in 1917 and lived in Oktoc Community of Oktibbeha County Mississippi until her family moved to Starkville, MS. After she graduated from Starkville High in 1936, she went to Mississippi State and graduated in 1940. She went on to begin her 37 year career with the Cooperative Extension Service as Publication Editor for Mississippi State University.
While working at Mississippi State, she met a student named Tommy. He was a dashing, young, former Navy pilot and they eventually married in 1947. They had one son, Tommy Jr., named after his father.
Edna traveled all over the United States by motorhome with her husband. As members of Good Sam Travel Club, they often met up with other members for weekend trips all around the state. They also traveled internationally to Kenya, Japan, Australia and New Zealand with family members.
You could find Edna at weekend ballgames for Mississippi State tailgating with her husband and enjoying everyone that stopped by. She loved entertaining her friends and family.
Edna was a charter member of the Pilot Club in Starkville, MS. She enjoyed doing many hours of community service with this group. Edna was an avid gardener like her mother. She belonged to Starkville Home and Garden Club and later to the Galaxy Garden Club in Columbus, MS.
Edna moved to assisted living, in Columbus, MS, after a fall at her home in Starkville. In 2009, she moved to Lafayette to be with her son and family, where Edna enjoyed many years of happiness going to family gatherings.
Edna was preceded in death by her loving husband, Tommy; her parents, Gordon Blackmon Kimbell and Elsie Earle Self Kimbell; brothers, William and Gordon Kimbell; and sister, Myrtle Ballenger.
She is survived by her son, Tommy Wilkerson Jr. and Laura, his wife; two grandsons, Brian{Raegan} and Michael; four great-grandchildren, Gavin, Hayden, Wyatt, and Ross; sister, Elsie Croft; nieces, Idabelle Rainy, Patricia Benoit, Mary Mhoon Walker, Sally Graflund, Betsy Belz, Eleanor Gibson, Sue Aguilana, Janet Gehring, Laura Croft, and Catherine Croft; nephews, Frank Wilkerson, Bill Wilkerson, William Goodman and Mark Kimbell.
Edna’s family wishes to express their great appreciation for the love and care she received at The Blake of Lafayette, all the staff from Acadian Hospice, and the many Right At Home sitters. We couldn’t have done this without you.
A small celebration of Edna’s life will be held at The Blake on Thursday, October 27, 2022 at 2:00 PM for her caregivers there and any other friends here in Lafayette.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 11:00 a.m. in Memorial Garden Park Cemetery in Oktibbeha County, Starkville, MS.
Fr. Muse Davis, Pastor of Saint David’s Anglican Catholic Church in Mayhew, MS, will officiate the funeral services.
Donations may be made to the Salvation Army or to a charity of your choice.
