Funeral services for Ida Judson Harrold Wilkerson, 97, of Winterville will be at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, March 6 at Benoit Union Church in the sanctuary. She died on March 3 in Greenville. Burial will be in Greenville Cemetery.
Mrs. Wilkerson was born September 9, 1918 in West Point, Mississippi, the elder daughter of Judson Nixon Harrold and Helen Weddle Harrold. She was an honor graduate of West Point High School and of Mississippi State College for Women. At MSCW, Wilkerson was selected “Miss MSCW”, served as president of the Student Body and as president of the Home Economics College Students of Mississippi.
In 1941, she married Jefferson P. Wilkerson, Jr. of Clifton Plantation in Winterville. She taught home economics at Greenville High School and Mississippi University for Women. Wilkerson also became coordinator of the Distributive Education Department of the Greenville Public Schools.
An avid gardener, Mrs. Wilkerson served as President of the Junior Greenville Garden Club, the Greenville Garden Club, and the Garden Club of America. In 1979, she placed first in the pressed flower division of the Garden Club of America’s National Flower Show in New York City. She was instrumental in organizing the Dirt Daubers Garden Club for 5th and 6th grade girls.
Mrs. Wilkerson was a leader who served her community with many organizations in several capacities. She was president of the Riverside Cotton Wives, the MUW Alumnae Association, and the Parent Teachers Association of Trigg Elementary and Greenville High Schools. She also served as regent of the Belvidere Chapter of the DAR, as chairman of the Greenville Symphony League, and as vice-president of the Mississippi Inter-Alumni Council. She was secretary and a life member of the Greenville Junior Auxiliary as well as a member of the Twin City Theater Guild, Delta Kappa Gamma, and the women’s committee of the Delta Council.
Mrs. Wilkerson was a member of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, MS and later of Benoit Presbyterian Church. She taught kindergarten, Sunday School, and ladies’ Bible classes.
Mrs. Wilkerson was preceded in death by her husband Jeff, her daughter Helen Wilkerson Skelton and her son-in-law James Nowell, all of whom lived in Winterville. She is survived by her daughter Princella Wilkerson Nowell, her son-in-law Emery Skelton, and five grandchildren and their spouses: Jeff Skelton and Sarah of Jackson, David Skelton and Theresa of Winterville, and Jud Skelton and Shannon of Starkville, Caroline Nowell Schattner and Thomas of Plano, Texas, and Kristen Nowell of Huntsville, Alabama. She leaves eleven great grandchildren.
There will be a visitation one hour prior to services at Benoit Union Church. The Reverend Ann Jones will conduct the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Benoit Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 277, Benoit, MS 38725.