Miss Jessie M. Wilder

Miss Jessie Mae Wilder, age 85, of Thomaston, died Friday, August 11, 2023, at her residence. Memorial services for Miss Wilder will be held Monday, August 14, at 11:00 AM, at the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston with Rev. Tommy Ross officiating. The family will receive friends in the fellowship hall of the church from 10:00 AM until the service hour. Inurnment will be Monday afternoon at 4:00 PM, in the Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery, 1525 Scenic Hwy. North, Snellville, GA.
Miss Wilder was born in Lawrenceville, GA, on July 11, 1938, to the late Jesse B. Wilder and the late Eula Lee Ethridge Wilder. She was a 1957 graduate of Lawrenceville High School and earned a BS degree from North Georgia College in 1961. That same year she moved to Thomaston to teach at R. E. Lee Institute. She served as the cheerleading sponsor from 1961-1976, but her greatest achievements came as Lee's tennis coach. Her players earned many region championships in boys' and girls' singles and doubles, and there were two state championships in both boys' and girls' doubles. Miss Wilder was named region Coach-of-the-Year seven times - four for boys and three for girls. She also coached and taught tennis lessons to the youth of the community during the summer. She was retired from the Thomaston-Upson School System and was a member of the Thomaston-Upson Retired Educators. She was inducted into the Thomaston-Upson Sports Hall of Fame in 2006 and served on its board of directors from 2010-2016. In 2019, Miss Wilder was honored by the Thomaston Sertoma Club with their Service to Mankind Award. She continued to support local athletics as a member of the Upson Athletic Boosters Club. She loved her dogs she had through the years - Murphy, Sam, and Spencer. Miss Wilder was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Thomaston.
Miss Wilder is survived by her family, Kathy and Cleve Hendrix, Bo and Zac Hendrix, and several cousins.
Those desiring may make memorial contributions to First United Methodist Church, PO Box 707, Thomaston, GA 30286, or to Upson-Lee Tennis Team, 268 Knight Trail, Thomaston, GA 30286.
The family may be contacted at the home of Cleve and Kathy Hendrix, 134 Shasta Drive, Thomaston, GA.
Fletcher-Day Funeral Home of Thomaston in charge of all arrangements. Condolences and remembrances may be expressed at www.fletcherdayfuneralhome.com.
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