James Elmer Wilkerson

James Elmer (Jimmy) Wilkerson, 75, of Bedford, went to be with his Heavenly Father on Saturday, February 28, 2009 after a courageous battle with cancer. James was born on Thursday, March 16, 1933 in Bedford Co., a son of the late Clifton Luck Wilkerson and Mattie Agee Wilkerson. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Clifton Luck Wilkerson, Jr. He was a retired shipping supervisor for the Rubatex Corporation, where he worked for thirty-eight years. He was also a member of Timber Ridge Baptist Church. Surviving is his loving wife and devoted caregiver, Betty Witt Wilkerson; his three children, Jerry Wilkerson and wife, Terri, of Bedford, Cathy Logwood and husband, Gene, of Bedford, Kim Smith and husband, Dick, of Forest; four grandchildren, Joseph Wilkerson and wife, Ashley, Jessica Shrewsbury, Diana Wilkerson and Kyle Smith; two great-grandchildren, Thomas and Jackson Shrewsbury; a brother, Page Wilkerson and wife, Kathleen, of Bedford; a sister, Lois Abbott and husband, Kenneth, of Bedford. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to Bedford Lifesaving Crew, P. O. Box 161, Bedford, VA 24523 or Timber Ridge Baptist Church, 3234 Timber Ridge Road, Bedford, VA 24523. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, March 3, 2009 at 11 a.m. at Timber Ridge Baptist Church, with the Rev. Rick Foster and the Rev. Clayton Riggs officiating. Interment will follow in Timber Ridge Baptist Church Cemetery. Friends may call Monday after 12 noon and the family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. at Updike Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Bedford.