I have run my race, I have finished my course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord God shall give me at that day.



Our loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt, cousin, and friend, Mary E. Wilson was chosen by God on Thursday, March 15, 2007 to receive her crown,

"A mansion in the sky."



Mary was born on Friday, December 3, 1926 to Arthur and

Inez Cassell on Galberry Road in Norfolk County, Virginia. "Christmas came early when the perfect curly-haired doll was delivered." She was the fifth of six siblings.



She was predeceased by her parents, her husband, Josiah B. Wilson, Sr., one son, Harold Dean Wilson, two sisters, Vivian Bly and Jocelyn Cuffee, and one brother, Hilton Cassell.



Mary received Christ and was baptized at an early age at Divine Baptist Church. She graduated from Our Lady of Victory High School in Norfolk County, Virginia.



She married Josiah B. Wilson Sr., on September 18, 1946. This marriage was blessed with 15 lovely children, 9 boys and 6 girls.



To know Mary was to love her. She especially enjoyed her family and friends. The yearly summer vacations on the Outer Banks of North Carolina brought her exceptional joy. Her favorite past times were cooking for family and friends, doing jigsaw puzzles and solving crossword puzzles. She also enjoyed traveling with her sisters and the "Silver Strands" in her later years. She will be lovingly remembered as the lady with the sweet gentle smile.



Mary leaves to cherish her memories: a sister, Hurley Gwynn and a brother, Waverly Cassell (Nettie) both of Chesapeake; fourteen children, Josiah Wilson, Jr. (Theresa) of Portsmouth; Brenda Paul (Sly) of Chesapeake; Charlotte McCullough (Joe) of Chesapeake; Lloyd Wilson of Paducah, Kentucky; David Wilson, Sr. (Ellen) of Chesapeake; Olivia Jackson (Donnie) of Clinton, Md; Karen Edmonds (Tim) of Chesapeake; Mary Summers (Michael) of Lanham, Md; Arthur Wilson (Kathy) of Clinton, Md; Martin Wilson (Akie) of Columbus, Ga, Harry Wilson (Carol) of Frisco, Texas, Lt. Col. Melvin Wilson, Sr. (Chaun) of Petersburg,Va, Angela Wilson of Chesapeake, Ronald Wilson (Andrea) of Fort Washington, Md; twenty six grandchildren, seven great- grandchildren, one uncle, Fenton Faulk, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.



A funeral service will be held Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Church of the Advent, 1097 Bells Mill Road, Chesapeake. Interment will follow at Cassell Family Cemetery, Galberry Road, Chesapeake. Viewing will be held Tuesday from 2pm - 7pm at Pretlow and Sons Funeral Home, Chesapeake, where the family will receive friends from 6-7 pm.