Mauldin – David Paul Wilkerson died physically on January 25, 2019. Spiritually he lives on in heaven. Paul was preceded in death by Velma, his wife and as he said, “the love of my life” of 63 years.
Born on a cotton farm near Thomastown, Mississippi, on December 15, 1931, Paul was the eldest of ten children of Elton and Emma Bell Wilkerson. He is survived by his children Linda Wilkerson (Mark Grace) of Dallas, TX, Teresa Hayes (Chris) and David Paul Wilkerson Jr. (Susan) of Mauldin, SC; sisters Betty Ann Bennet of Madison, MS, Mary Bell Murrah of Memphis, TN, Patricia Lynn Cooper (David) of Lindale, TX and Wanda Brooke Craft (Scott) of Canton, MS and brothers Joe Frank Wilkerson (Mary Ann) of Meridian MS, and James Clifton Wilkerson (Cindy) of Auburn AL; granddaughter Brooke Johnson (Brandon); step grandchildren Kristina Hayes and Megan Grace Smith (Peter), Matthew Hayes and Nate Grace (Amy Jenkins); great grandchildren Grayson, Jackson and Emma Grace; and step great grandchildren Guthrie Grace, Lucas Hayes and Ezra Smith.
He was preceded in death by beloved grandson David Paul Wilkerson III, brother Henry Everette Wilkerson and sisters Jewell Herrington and Alice Lampkin.
Paul enlisted in U.S. Navy as a seaman and retired 24 years later as a Lt. Commander, serving through the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Vietnam Warand in the Manned Spacecraft Recovery Force. He went on to a career at Her Majesty Industries then realized his dream of owning a business by founding DPW Tax Services, Inc. which he led for 28 years and which his daughter Teresa continues to operate to this day. Paul had an astonishing memory for the Bible and the tax code, and passed on his competence, integrity, warmth and dedication to others to his children.
Paul’s faith and his church (FBC Mauldin) were central to his life. He served as a deacon and Sunday School teacher for forty years.
Visitation will be from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. on Monday January 28, 2019 at Thomas McAfee Funeral Home, Southeast Chapel. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church of Mauldin, SC.