Coleman Wilson

1988 - 2016

Coleman Parker Wilson

Clinton

Coleman Parker Wilson, 28, entered the Kingdom of Heaven on December 27, 2016. Cole was born on April 27, 1988 in Vicksburg, Mississippi. He was the son of John and Christy Dale Wilson of Clinton, Mississippi. He graduated from Clinton High School in 2006 and received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Business from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2011. He was a member of Kappa Sigma Fraternity.

While in High School, Cole was a guitarist in the nationally acclaimed Attache Show Choir Pit. Cole's years playing in the Pit were marked as some of the best of the Attache Show Choir, with the Choir and Pit being named number one in the nation each year. He also lettered in football as a Defensive End for the Clinton Arrows. His Senior year he was named Defensive Lineman of the Year and awarded Best Defensive Player of the Game against the Arrow's strongest rival, Madison Central High School, a game the Arrows won. Cole was a favorite among his peers being selected as Mr. Freshman, Sophomore, Junior, and Senior class. He was also a Clinton High School Beau and chosen for several other Who's Who awards.

Cole worked with the Clinton Parks and Recreation Department throughout high school and college where he developed a love for working outdoors. He continued working in the construction and landscape contracting industry after graduating from college. Every person he ever worked with or for always had the same reaction: they had never known anybody who could work as hard or as long and enjoy it as much as Cole Wilson. He was widely known for his strong work ethic. Cole loved nothing better than to grab his tools, jump on a tractor, and at the end of a long, hard day, look back at the transformation his work had created.

Cole was a gifted musician and guitarist. He began playing guitar at the age of thirteen and had an astounding, natural talent. Cole was known for his love of the blues and his skill as a blues guitarist and played anywhere, anytime he could share his love of music. He often played for weddings, as well as at nursing homes, and charitable or fundraising events. Many of his fondest memories were the events he played with his father, John, his biggest fan and favorite, almost constant event partner. Together, they played in several bands and looked forward every year to beginning the New Year at The Red House in Ripley, Mississippi where two of Cole's signature songs became Free Bird by Lynard Skynard and Lenny by Stevie Ray Vaughan. He became known by several guitarist nicknames, two being Clapton and Blade. As much as Cole's talent was applauded, he remained humble and modest, dismissing it as just something born to him.

Cole Parker, as his family often called him, spent countless hours as a child and young boy on the Parker family property in Rankin County, Mississippi with his Aunt Kacky and Uncle B Parker. Uncle B, a master gardener, began in Cole a love of planting and waiting, watering and pruning, teaching Cole all he knew. Their tomato crops are legendary. Cole also rode many miles with Uncle B in his red truck throughout the Ross Barnett Reservoir area, hauling B's red bass boat behind them and sharing many hours fishing. Cole still drove and loved that twenty five year old GMC truck, known as Big Red.

Cole loved his beagles, hunting, fishing, guns, campfires and all things outdoors. He was referred to by his family as the Huck Finn of the siblings. Cole was devoted to his family. His greatest joy was found in the time he spent with his niece, Leah, and his nephews, David and Stephen. How he loved those children! Uncle Cole was the rough and ready uncle who built treehouses, water slides, swings, basketball goals, and spent hours supervising outside play and teaching them to use his tools, or using his tools to make doll furniture and toys.

Cole had a bigger than life personality that combined with his humble spirit and kind nature endeared him to everyone he met. Cole was everybody's best friend, everybody's favorite, and the light of our family. His quick smirk of a grin, the twinkle in his bright eyes, those brown curls and his great laugh will always be remembered by so many who loved him. He will be missed beyond measure.

Cole is preceded in death by his maternal grandfather, Roland Hall Dale, Jr. and his paternal grandfather, Harry Maury Wilson, Sr.

He is survived by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. John Kelly Wilson (Christy Dale) of Clinton, Mississippi; siblings, Jacob Dale Adams-Wilson(Sarah Jo) of Starkville, Mississippi; Bess Wilson Laporte (Nicholas) and their children, Leah Nicole, David Alexander, and Stephen Gabriel Laporte of Diamondhead, Mississippi, and Christian Kelly Wilson of Clinton, Mississippi. He is also survived by his maternal grandmother, Christine Coleman Dale of Brandon, Mississippi; his maternal great aunt, Kathryn Dale Parker (W. T. [Billy]) of Flowood, Mississippi, and his paternal grandmother, Sue Kelly Wilson of Tupelo, Mississippi. Cole is survived by several aunts, uncles, and many cousins who loved him dearly.

Cole was laid to rest in Magee, Mississippi surrounded by his Dale ancestors with a private burial ceremony. His memorial service will be held at First Baptist Church, Clinton, Mississippi on Saturday, January, 7, 2017 at 1:00 p.m. with visitation an hour prior to the service.

Memorials made to the Mississippi Delta Blues Society of Indianola, Mississippi, Attention to: Janet Webb, Post Office Box 2037, Indianola, Mississippi 38751 or to a charity of your choice are appreciated.

Please visit www.lakewoodfuneralhomes.com for Cole's online guestbook.