Wellington "Gay" A. "Will" Selden Sr

Wellington Argilia Selden Sr. DOVER - Wellington "Will" "Gay" A. Selden Sr. departed this life on Sunday, Aug. 31, 2008, after a brief illness. He was born in Bedford, Va. His parents, Joseph Majors and Lillie Calloway Selden, predeceased him. Wellington grew up in Bedford, Va., and attended Bedford Training School. He also attended college at St. Paul University, located in Lawrenceville, Va. Wellington belonged to the Washington Street Baptist Church in Bedford, Va. At the age of 18 in June 1951, Will enlisted in the U.S. Air Force; he retired as a Chief Master Sergeant after 31 years of service in the armed forces in July 1982. While in the service, Will served in the armed forces around the world and state side in Okla., N.H. Mich., N.Y. and Del. He loved golf and frequently played at Dover Air Force Base Golf Course. He was a member of the PGA Association, MISGA, American Legion and the NAACP. He was active in Masonic Lodge, holding the 33rd degree. Wellington is survived by his wife, Peggy Marie Moss Selden. He is also survived by his eleven children, Joseph Madison Selden of State College, Pa., Leila Marie Selden Withers of Baton Rouge, La., Wellington A. Selde, Jr. of Woodbridge, Va., Savator Doreen Selden Johnson of Grand Rapids, Mich., Audrey Lorraine Selden of Austin, Texas, Aubrey Lorenzo Selden of Wilmington, Calif., Margaret Anne Selden Montgomery of Houston, Texas, Michael Wiley Selden of Houston, Texas, Janice Bernice Selden of Grand Rapids, Mich., Jeannette Benita Selden of Austin, Texas, and Jerome Raymond Selden of Florence, S.C. Wellington Selden has 21 grandchildren namely, Camille Nicole Selden, Tom Withers IV, Wellington A. Selden III, Christina Selden, Dairreel Selden, Dunte' Selden, Ciara Selden-Ruffin, Wesley Johnson Jr., Jyles Austin Selden, Jasper Selden, Camry Selden, Jeffrey Selden, Janna Selden, Zaire Selden, Cairo Selden, Azania Selden;, Somalia Selden, Vernon Montgomery, Tatiana Montgomery, Cleopatra Williams and Satchel Selden. A great-grandfather, Wellington, has four great-grandchildren, Corey Pinkley, Aaron Hallowell, Aamir Hallowell, and Xavier Selden. Chief Selden is survived by his brother, Raymond Seldon of Capitol Heights, Md.; sisters, Mattie Selden Green of Bedford, Va., Savator Selden Lowry of Bedford, Va, Anne Hunter of Capitol Heights, Md., Mary Will McDuffie of Portsmouth, Va., and Marionette Selden Medlock of Seat Pleasant, Md. He has several nieces and nephews, God children, and a host of friends. Will's sister Frances Selden and Wiley Selden, both of Bedford, Va., predeceased him. Always full of cheer and saying something encouraging to all the people he met, Wellington will surely be missed. His favorite Biblical verse was Psalms 91. Visitation will be held Friday, from 9 to 11 a.m. in Calvary Baptist Church, 410 Fulton Street, Dover, Delaware. The funeral will begin at 11 a.m. Funeral Arrangements are being made by Bennie Smith Funeral Home. In remembrance of Wellington, house plants are preferred or donations to the American Lung Association are appreciated.