John Julian Wilkins III

Family-Placed Death Notice

WILKINS, John, III JOHN JULIAN WILKINS, III John Julian Wilkins III died at his home on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. Born in Athens September 12, 1934, he was the son of John J. Wilkins, Jr. and Marjorie Woods Wilkins Daughtry. He was predeceased by his beloved wife of fifty years, Jean Lovat Anderson Wilkins, on March 22, 2007. Survivors include his son, John Julian Wilkins IV, daughter-in-law Pamela Hall Wilkins, and granddaughter Alexis Gabrielle Hart Wilkins of Atlanta; his daughter Ellen Fraser Wilkins Wiley, son-in-law Floyd Murray "Buck" Wiley III, and grandson William Young Wiley, II, of Atlanta; and his brother Thomas Hart Wilkins and wife Ann Collins Wilkins of Athens. Mr. Wilkins attended Athens High School and graduated from Avon Old Farms School in Avon, Connecticut in 1952. He earned a bachelor of business administration degree from the University of Georgia in 1957, where he was a member of Chi Phi Fraternity; president of the Inter-fraternity Council; a member of Sphinx and Gridiron; a founder of the Greek Horsemen; vice president of the Student Council; and a member of Phi Kappa Literary Society and Omega Delta Kappa. Mr. Wilkins followed his father and grandfather in the apparel manufacturing business founded by his family in 1907. He founded Bellgrade Manufacturing Company in 1959 in Jefferson, Georgia. This company merged in 1969 with his family's Big Ace Corporation to form Wilkins Industries. Wilkins Industries grew under his leadership to become the largest non-government employer in Athens and one of the nation's largest manufacturers of women's jeanswear. He was the first local employer to integrate African-American women into the industrial workforce. Mr. Wilkins had a life-long interest in helping and encouraging others and delighted in the accomplishments of those he mentored. Mr. Wilkins was one of the founders of Athens Academy, chartered in 1966. He served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees from the inception of the school until the time of his death. His dream of establishing an excellent college preparatory school in Athens guided the school through its founding and growth. His forty-two years of service spanned all facets of development as the school moved from its original small campus on Prince Avenue to its current 105-acre location in Oconee County. Seeing the school flourish in later years filled him with great pride and excitement. In 1996 the Board of Trustees named the upper school the John J. Wilkins III Upper School Campus. Mr. Wilkins was a member and former vestryman of Emmanuel Episcopal Church. He has served as president of the board of the Athens City Club; treasurer of Athens Country Club; vice-chairman of the American Apparel Manufacturers Association Education Foundation; and a member of the advisory board of St. Mary's Hospital. He was also a member of the Piedmont Driving Club and the Commerce Club in Atlanta as well as the University Club in New York City. Mr. Wilkins enjoyed the countryside and cattle farming in Oglethorpe County. He was an avid vegetable gardener, a gourmet cook, and a lover of fine wines. He was a voracious reader. He utilized his great wit and gift of storytelling as a means of communication, not only to entertain but also to encourage and inspire others. While growing up on Milledge Circle in Athens, he was known among his boyhood friends as the "Mayor of Five Points", a title that followed him throughout his life. On Friday, March 14 at 2 p.m. services will be held at Emmanuel Episcopal Church located at 498 Prince Avenue in Athens. Prior to the service family and friends are invited to a 12 noon reception in the Parish Hall. Interment will follow in Oconee Hill Cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be past and present members of the Athens Academy Board of Trustees. In lieu of flowers gifts may be made to the John J. Wilkins III Memorial Building Fund, Athens Academy, P.O. Box 6548, Athens, GA 30604. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.bernsteinfuneralhome.com