Wilma W. Wynn

Wilma Ethel Wade was born July 25, 1930, in Passaic, NJ.
She was the first of three children born to William and Leila Wade. She was followed by a brother, Gus Wade, and a sister, Alton Wade,
She attended the Mather Educational Institute for Black Women in Beaufort, SC, and graduated in the Class of 1947. On October 12, 1958, Wilma completed the Myers School of Beauty and became a certified as a Cosmetologist. On December 9, 1988, Wilma graduated from Georgia Military College with an Associate Degree in Applied Science and General Education. She began Undergraduate Studies at Savannah State College the summer 1971and continued to the fall 1971. On May 3, 1997, Wilma earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religion from Saint Leo College.
On November 12, 1949, she married William Cohen, and they settled down in Jamaica Queens, NY. On July 24, 1952, they welcomed the birth of her only child, Ivan Bruce Cohen. On July 20, 1970, she married Silas Wynn. He was enlisted in the U.S. Army, and she spent years traveling with him and that included several years in Germany. Then they settled in his hometown, Savannah, GA.
In 1961, while in Savannah, she landed a position at Alex's Super Duper Market at 634 West Broad Street, now Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard. She was the first Black cashier hired by this business, primarily serving the Black community. This was an endeavor by the local NAACP and the President, Hosea Williams.
In 1976, she was later employed as Customer Representative at First Bank of Savannah. In 1981, she transferred to Atlanta, GA., with the bank. Later she was employed as an Accounting Technician at Fort Gillem Army Base. In 1983, she accepted a position at Fort McPherson Army Base, as a Payroll Clerk in the Civilian Pay Section. While working the jobs above, in 1983 and 1984, she worked an evening position as a Cashier/Salesclerk at Cloth World. Unfortunately, her Fort McPherson position was being relocated to Florida, and she chose the option to retire early. Wilma received a Certificate of Retirement from Federal Service on August 31, 1996. She continued to work as a substitute teacher in Clayton County and a sales associate at Macy's. In addition, she worked the Clayton County election polls for over 25 years. Also, Wilma was an avid member and participant at the Frank Bailey Senior Citizen Center in Riverdale, GA.
Wilma W. Wynn transitioned on Wednesday, September 17, 2025. She was preceded in death by her brother, Gus Wade.
Wilma is survived by her son, Ivan B. Cohen of Savannah, GA; sister Alton Wade of Jamaica, NY; godsons Iria, II and Jabari Willford of Moncks Corner, SC; and a group of caring and devoted friends, Sharon & Lorenzo Davis, Carolyn Johnson, Mary Savage, and Diane Futch (all of Metro Atlanta) and Iria Willford, I of Moncks Corner, SC. In additional, she is survived by a host of family and friends.