William Roberts “Bob” Wilson, Jr.

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William Roberts Wilson, Jr left this life on January 30, 2024 in Oxford, MS, surrounded by his children. The funeral will be Friday, February 9, 2024, at 2:00 P.M. at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church with The Rev. Jennifer Southall officiating. Visitation will be held prior to the service beginning at 1:00 P.M. A graveside service will be held Saturday, February 10, 2024, at 12:00 noon in Woodlawn Cemetery in Sumner, MS.

What a life it was. Bob lived life to the fullest, and did his best to share the banquet with anyone he cared about. He truly never met a stranger, and his happy admonition upon meeting anyone who tried to call him “Mr. Wilson” of “Call me Bob, Damnit!” earned him a colorful and loving nickname by those lucky enough to know him. Bob-Damnit’s legacy of grace, good times, and living life to the fullest will be carried on by the many lives he touched, and in the smiles brought about by his memory.

His story began in his beloved Rosedale, the Mississippi Delta town where he was born and raised. He educated so many about the magic that existed in that southern enclave, and endeavored to continue its best traditions wherever he went. Some of his favorites were graciously sharing his home and table with anyone who came by, hunting any time he got the chance, and giving a damn good party whenever any occasion arose that offered the opportunity.

After attending Rosedale’s public schools through eighth grade, Bob continued his education at the Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, from which he graduated cum laude. Anyone who knew him will not be surprised to know that, at Webb, he was president and senior debater of the Platonic Debating Society, and a member of the Prefect Council. Active in the Episcopal Church, Mr. Wilson was senior warden of St. Nicholas Chapel at Webb. He continued his service to his alma mater by serving on the Trust Advisory Board at Webb School.

Bob told the best stories about his time “at Vanderbilt,” where he attended undergraduate school in Nashville, Tennessee. There he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon, in which fraternity he held several offices. He later continued his affiliation with the Chi chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at the University of Mississippi. He earned his Juris Doctor degree at the University of Mississippi Law School, where he was a member of the Jefferson Davis Senate of Delta Theta Pi, an honorary legal fraternity. Later, he was instrumental in reestablishing the Chi Chapter of Delta Kappa Epsilon at the University of Mississippi, which organized in an antebellum building, the use of which was donated by Mr. Wilson.

Bob Wilson’s career as an attorney is a storied one. His practice started as a special projects attorney with the National Labor Relations Board in Washington, D.C. and entered private practice in Pascagoula, Mississippi in 1970. He hung a shingle and built his firm doing any work that came to the door. He kissed his children before many dawns to head to his desk, and many late nights saw him researching at the law library for Gulf Coast citizens from every walk of life. He is more well known for his work in Asbestos Law where his effort for the American worker continued, as he bravely broke ground in Mississippi for thousands to find justice where they may not have otherwise had a voice. He spent a great part of his life wrangling empires in the legal arena, often at his own peril. Thanks to him, injustice and corruption was often revealed and righted, to the great benefit of our justice system, and citizenry.

Bob moved his firm to Jackson, Mississippi in 1992, and then to Oxford in 2010- fulfilling a lifelong dream. He served as Mississippi Bar Commissioner from the 19th Judicial District, and was a board member and a life member of the Mississippi Trial Lawyers Association. He was also a sustaining member of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America, which he served in the capacity of National Public Relations Vice-Chairman, Southeast United States Regional Membership Chairman and as a Mississippi delegate. He was a fellow of the Roscoe Pound Foundation. He was a graduate of the National College of Advocacy. He was a member of the Mississippi Bar, the Alabama Bar and the Bar of the United States Supreme Court and several United States district and appellate courts. He was formerly a Board Member of the Valley Bank (State Bank), founded by his family in 1898.

Bob spent and shared as much of his time as he could “in the woods.” A lifelong conservationist, he could name every leaf, flower, animal, or bug he came across – oftentimes in a few different languages. An avid sportsman, he was a member of Ducks Unlimited since the time he was six years old. Later, he was a founding board member of the United States Congressional Sportsman’s Caucus Foundation of which he was treasurer. Also, he was a founding board member of the United Conservation Alliance, a joint committee of the leading conservation organizations in the United States. He was a life member of the Mississippi Wildlife Foundation, a life member of the National Rifle Association and Safari Club International of which he was regional vice-president and International Board Member, a life sponsor of Quail Unlimited, sponsoring member of Waterfowl, USA, sponsoring founder of Delta Wildlife Federation and founder of The Charitable Food Bank and Mississippi Sportsmen Against Hunger. Bob was an honorary life member of the International Professional Hunters Association and several other conservation organizations, including his beloved Catfish Point Hunting Club. He was formerly the owner of Dunn’s Supply Company, an international hunting supply located in Grand Junction, Tennessee, and Dunn’s Shooting Grounds at Holly Springs, Mississippi.

Bob was a former member of the Country Club of Jackson, Athelstan Club of Mobile, Alabama, the Yale Club of New York City and the Delta Kappa Epsilon Club of New York City.

Bob leaves; a son, William Roberts Wilson, III (Frankie); daughters, Elizabeth Ann Wilson Hiatt (Bradley) and Augusta Elliott Wilson Harvard (Billy); Seven grandchildren, Charles Roderick MacDonald Hiatt, Elizabeth Ann Wilson Hiatt, James Clay Smith Hiatt, Winn Roberts Wilson, Meredith Clay Wilson, William Bloxham Harvard V, and Augusta Elliott Wilson Harvard; Five nieces and nephews, Mary Elizabeth Milek Sessums, Dana Blanton Johnson, Mark Alexander Blanton, Frederick Clay Keith, Mary Elizabeth Keith; and sister in law Mary Clay Smith Keith. Mr. Wilson was preceded in death by his wife of 54 years, Elizabeth Ann Smith Wilson, his parents, William Roberts Wilson, Sr. and Mary Elizabeth Boatner Wilson and his sisters Augusta E. Wilson and Mary Elizabeth Pierce.

Bob was a communicant at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Oxford, Mississippi.

Expressions of sympathy or memorial contributions in Bob’s memory may be made to the Center for Autism & Related Disabilities at USF at https://giving.usf.edu/online/gift/f/530002/.