51����

Issue: Spring 2018 | Posted: June 1, 2018

Old School

Children of Pete and Walternine Wilson establish scholarship to honor parents

Pete and Walternine Wilson never had the opportunity to go to college, but they both valued education. Born before the great depression in rural Mississippi, they had responsibilities from a young age and were raised to be hard workers.

They settled in Jackson around 1940, and Pete went off to serve in World War II. When he returned, they made Jackson their permanent home. The Wilsons grew to love Union during their time in Jackson, and Pete served as a trustee for the institution. When their children were ready for college, all three of them chose to attend the university.

“There was never any question whether or not we were going to get a college education,” said Ramona Yates, the Wilson’s youngest child. “That was a priority for them.”

Yates and her brothers, Larry and Dennis Wilson, recently established the Pete and Walterine Wilson Memorial Scholarship in memory of their parents to allow other young people to attend Union.

“It’s a way to give back to the youth who want to go to a great school and to honor our parents and what they valued,” Yates said.

She said she hopes that each semester, a young person at Union will receive a scholarship and see the names of Pete and Walterine Wilson and know that they loved young people and appreciated Christian higher education.

Pete and Walterine were faithful members of West Jackson Baptist Church for more than 70 years. Pete was a lifelong deacon and served on many committees, and Walterine taught in the preschool ministry for more than 50 years, beginning when Ramona was a baby.

“Mother would always say that you’re not babysitting back there, you’re teaching them about Jesus,” Yates said. “That was her ministry.”

She said her parents had been through tough times, and they were strong people —strong in will and strong in character— but they were also tender and loving.

“They were hard-working folks who loved the Lord and loved Union and loved West Jackson,” she said. “And they had a big heart for people. That’s how they will always be remembered.”