Melissa Lee "Lisa" Kight Wilson

Melissa Lee “Lisa” (Kight) Wilson, age 67, passed away peacefully on February 4, 2026, surrounded by her loved ones and song. She was born on November 9, 1958, to Mary Evelyn Atkison and Donald Orval Kight in Peoria, Illinois. Beloved by many, she was a loving mother, grandmother, sister, and friend.

Like many others, Lisa was a study in contrast: fierce and funny, tender and tough, caring and candid, simple and sophisticated. She possessed a sharp wit, a big heart, and an endless appreciation for beauty. Guided by her deep sense of responsibility, Lisa chose to set aside her educational and professional aspirations to care for her loved ones and be home with her children, entering the workforce later in life.

Keenly intelligent, Lisa was an avid reader and life-long learner. With a strong sense of justice and a deep love for her country, she thought deeply about social issues. Lisa loved music, stories, gardening, nature, and Labradors; she loved her family most of all. Her sense of humor was boundless, and she laughed often and easily. She will be warmly remembered for her quick wit, lively humor, and profound love for her family and friends.

Lisa is preceded in death by her mother, Mary, her father, Donald, her stepfather, Bruce Wayne Hill, and her brothers, Hershel Ray Fisher and Mark Jay Hill. She will be deeply missed by her family: her sons and daughters-in-law, Micah and Trish Wilson, and Joseph and Heather Wilson; her daughter, Amanda Wilson; her grandsons, Roman, Finley, and Foster; her siblings, Gerri Lynn Thompson, Larry Kight, and Dawn Preston; as well as her nieces and nephews.

This spring, when the flowers she loved best are in bloom, the family will hold a private gathering in her honor. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the SECU Family House in Winston Salem, NC at https://www.familyhousews.org/donate/.