Leslie R. Wilson

1957 - 2021

Leslie R. Wilson

Purvis, MS - Services will be held at 4:00 p.m. Sunday, June 13, 2021 at First Baptist Church, Purvis for Leslie R. Wilson, 63, of Purvis, who died Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

Visitation will be held at the church from 1:00 p.m. until the service. Interment will follow at Coaltown Cemetery in Purvis.

Leslie was a member and deacon at First Baptist Church of Purvis, where he also served in various other roles over the years, including choir member, children's Sunday School teacher, Royal Ambassadors (RAs) teacher and trustee.

He was a lifetime resident of Lamar County and retired in 2015 after 32 years of public service — 12 as coroner and 20 as circuit clerk. He spent many extra hours at the courthouse serving the people of Lamar County.

Leslie was a 1978 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science and a 1975 graduate of Purvis High School, where he was voted wittiest and class favorite.

Purvis Tornado athletics played a huge role in Leslie's life. He was a faithful supporter of Purvis Football, traveling to many away games and operating the scoreboard at home games. Most notably, he was the PA announcer for Purvis Baseball for more than 35 years.

Leslie is preceded in death by his wife of 41 years, Paula Humphries Wilson, and parents, Everette L. "Pete" and Betty Wilson. He is survived by two daughters, Stacey Gotwald (Chris) of Starkville and Emily Hession (Will) of Purvis; four grandchildren, Barrett Gotwald, Reeves Hession, Jace Gotwald and Emma Raye Hession; three sisters, Shirley Whittington (Bill) of Prentiss, Carolyn Byrd (Bruce) of Mobile, AL and Linda Richard of Purvis; and a host of extended family members.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.