Donald Claude Wilson, 96, of Southfield, Michigan, passed away peacefully at his home on January 11, 2026. He was lovingly cared for by Hospice Home Care and his wife, Jane.
Donald was born on September 11, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to Eugene Sr. and Golden Trent Wilson. He was the seventh son and the last of nine children. He vowed to draw on his family's history of creativity and art to achieve the goals of success they all shared. Don graduated from Northwestern High School, where he was an active athlete, running hurdles and the one-mile course, and attended Wayne State University. When the Korean War broke out, he was inducted into the United States Army, serving as a sergeant and nuclear-guided missile instructor, a position that required a secret clearance. After an honorable discharge, he joined the Michigan National Guard and became part of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD).
Don was an artist and writer, and in 1962, published the first City of Detroit magazine, The Spirit of Detroit. This publication drew the attention of The Detroit News, which hired Don as the first African American on its retail advertising staff, and he was quickly promoted to management. However, he was highly displeased with the newspaper's racial discrimination practices in hiring and filed a federal class action lawsuit in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit drew the attention of Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, who brought him into his administration as Director of Public Information.
Later, Don became a real estate broker, inventor, film maker, and free-lance writer. He invented the Flying Saucer Toy, produced two movie trailers for The Big Treasure and The Winds of Tomorrow, wrote five episodes of ABC's soap opera series, One Life to Live, several episodes of the western, Rawhide, five novels, and numerous screenplays. He also co-wrote with his wife Jane, The Pride of African American History.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Wilson Sr., and Golden Trent Wilson; his first wife, Virginia Gill Wilson; his sons Donald Wilson Jr. and David Duane Wilson; and his siblings, Eugene Wilson Jr., John Buford Wilson, Everett Wayne Wilson, Clarence Elwood Wilson, Elsie Henrietta Gordon, Orval Lathon Wilson, Mildred Sophonia Wilson-Green, and Melvin Terry Wilson. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jane Yvonne Wilson; his children Valerie Wilson-Rayford of The Woodlands, Texas, and Vanessa (Norman Sr.) Gray of West Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; his grandchildren, Ervin Duane Wilson, Angela Stonestreet, Daryle Duane Wilson, Adam Christopher Rayford, Aaron Carlyn Rayford, Andrew Caleb Rayford, Norman Milton Gray Jr., and Allison Alayna Gray; a host of great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and the friendships he cherished throughout his long life, many of whom he now joins in rest.
Though his journey on this Earth has come to an end, Don leaves behind a legacy of courage, creativity, and unwavering purpose. His life was a testament to resilience, imagination, and the belief that one person can shape the world with conviction and heart. To all who knew him, he offered wisdom, laughter, and a generous spirit that will continue to guide us. As we celebrate his remarkable life, may we carry forward his love of family, his passion for justice, and his boundless creative spark.
Don was cremated and interment will be at the National Great Lakes Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. Details for a memorial service to be held in late spring/early summer will be announced at a later date.
Thank you for keeping Don in your thoughts and prayers as we honor a life beautifully lived and deeply loved.
Donald was born on September 11, 1929, in Detroit, Michigan, to Eugene Sr. and Golden Trent Wilson. He was the seventh son and the last of nine children. He vowed to draw on his family's history of creativity and art to achieve the goals of success they all shared. Don graduated from Northwestern High School, where he was an active athlete, running hurdles and the one-mile course, and attended Wayne State University. When the Korean War broke out, he was inducted into the United States Army, serving as a sergeant and nuclear-guided missile instructor, a position that required a secret clearance. After an honorable discharge, he joined the Michigan National Guard and became part of the North American Air Defense Command (NORAD).
Don was an artist and writer, and in 1962, published the first City of Detroit magazine, The Spirit of Detroit. This publication drew the attention of The Detroit News, which hired Don as the first African American on its retail advertising staff, and he was quickly promoted to management. However, he was highly displeased with the newspaper's racial discrimination practices in hiring and filed a federal class action lawsuit in violation of the 1964 Civil Rights Act. The lawsuit drew the attention of Detroit Mayor Coleman Young, who brought him into his administration as Director of Public Information.
Later, Don became a real estate broker, inventor, film maker, and free-lance writer. He invented the Flying Saucer Toy, produced two movie trailers for The Big Treasure and The Winds of Tomorrow, wrote five episodes of ABC's soap opera series, One Life to Live, several episodes of the western, Rawhide, five novels, and numerous screenplays. He also co-wrote with his wife Jane, The Pride of African American History.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eugene Wilson Sr., and Golden Trent Wilson; his first wife, Virginia Gill Wilson; his sons Donald Wilson Jr. and David Duane Wilson; and his siblings, Eugene Wilson Jr., John Buford Wilson, Everett Wayne Wilson, Clarence Elwood Wilson, Elsie Henrietta Gordon, Orval Lathon Wilson, Mildred Sophonia Wilson-Green, and Melvin Terry Wilson. He is survived by his wife of 32 years, Jane Yvonne Wilson; his children Valerie Wilson-Rayford of The Woodlands, Texas, and Vanessa (Norman Sr.) Gray of West Bloomfield Hills, Michigan; his grandchildren, Ervin Duane Wilson, Angela Stonestreet, Daryle Duane Wilson, Adam Christopher Rayford, Aaron Carlyn Rayford, Andrew Caleb Rayford, Norman Milton Gray Jr., and Allison Alayna Gray; a host of great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews; and the friendships he cherished throughout his long life, many of whom he now joins in rest.
Though his journey on this Earth has come to an end, Don leaves behind a legacy of courage, creativity, and unwavering purpose. His life was a testament to resilience, imagination, and the belief that one person can shape the world with conviction and heart. To all who knew him, he offered wisdom, laughter, and a generous spirit that will continue to guide us. As we celebrate his remarkable life, may we carry forward his love of family, his passion for justice, and his boundless creative spark.
Don was cremated and interment will be at the National Great Lakes Cemetery in Holly, Michigan. Details for a memorial service to be held in late spring/early summer will be announced at a later date.
Thank you for keeping Don in your thoughts and prayers as we honor a life beautifully lived and deeply loved.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Donald Claude Wilson, please visit our flower store.
Donald Claude Wilson's Guestbook
Visits: 22
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors