Mary Ella (Walker) Wilson

Mary Ella Wilson, 92 of Greenwood went to be with her Lord on Saturday May 20, 2023 after a life full of memories with family and friends.

Funeral will be Thursday May 25, 2023, 10:30 am at Decatur Church of

Christ. Visitation will be Wednesday May 24, 2023, 6-8 pm at Hawkins Funeral Home Decatur. Burial will be immediately following services at Sycamore Cemetery.

Pallbearers are her Grandsons, Cody Wilson, Eric Hillary Dustin Wilson,

Devin Wilson, Travis Wilson, J.J. Wilson and Chance Wilson. Honorary Pallbearers are Matt Weathers, Davy Hillary, Andrew Small and Wendal Bridges.

Mary Ella was born January 9, 1931 in Decatur to Wendell Orville Walker and Vera Lois (Rhine) Walker. She was married to the love of her life James Rodney Wilson on April 22, 1950 in Decatur. They were together for 69 years until Rodney’s passing on September 6,2019. They raised four sons, David, Logan, Ricky and Randy who all continue to live in the Greenwood area.

Mary Ella, known as Mamaw to most, was full of life and energy. She was a school bus driver for 40 plus years on a daily route in addition to most basketball games, and any field trip she could go on. She was a favorite substitute teacher and kept books for basketball games all those years too. Slidell ISD was truly blessed to have this kid loving, Greyhound basketball fan for so many years. In addition to basketball, Mary Ella loved volleyball, she played in high school, and she played league volleyball well into her seventies. Her team "The Roadrunners" won many local tournaments. She was tough and competitive and passed this trait on to her kids and grandkids.

On Sunday’s you would find her at Decatur Church of Christ where she was a lifelong member. For many of those years she taught 5 year olds, who learned the books of the Bible and memorized scripture, with the help of a few goldfish crackers.

Every holiday was special at Mamaw and Poppys house. Many meals, games, Easter egg coloring and annual hunts, presents at Christmas, the singing of carols, always fun and so much laughter was shared by every generation as well as friends who were welcomed and treated as family.

Mamaw and Poppy loved to travel and went many places together, but their favorite place was on a lake. They started that with their kids and continued the tradition with grand kids and great grandkids. Many memories were made on Lake Bridgeport, Wilson Lake and Lake Texoma. They boated, fished, skied, tubed, camped, just about any lake activity was enjoyed by all. When they were in their 80’s they purchased their lake home on Lake Bridgeport where many more good times were shared. Mamaw loved to sit on her porch there and just see the water. It was truly her "happy place".

Left to carry on her legacy of love are her sons, David and wife Becky,

Logan, Ricky, Randy and Melissa all of Greenwood. Sister Truman

Whittington of Decatur, Sister-in-law and Brother-in-law Joyce and James Forgason of Hungerford, Sister in law Beth Wilson of Ponder and Sister in law and Brother in law Trudy and Ernie Williams of Big Sandy.

Grandchildren Shannon Meyer, Rhonda and husband Matt Weathers, Cody and wife Lauren Wilson all of Slidell, Eric and wife Jessica Hillary of Greenwood, Davy Hillary of Ft. Worth, Dustin and wife Blair Wilson of Denton, Devin and wife Carly Wilson of Willis, Travis and wife Dayna Wilson of Greenwood, Kriston and husband Andrew Small of Slidell, J.J. and wife Ashley Wilson of Canton and Chance and wife Emily Wilson of Greenwood; 31 great grandchildren; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and a host of friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Rodney and sister Orvalda Bridges; her daughter-in-law, Vickie Wilson.

Any memorial donations can be made to The Mary "Mamaw" Wilson Athletic scholarship fund in care of Slidell ISD PO Box 69 Slidell, TX 76246 The scholarship will begin in the 2024 school yea r.