Delaine Wilson

1943 - 2025

PONTOTOC - Friday night, September 19, 2025, Delaine Wilson was finally able to hear "Well done, good and faithful servant". After a long back-and-forth battle with cancer, he went to sleep at Sanctuary Hospice house in Tupelo and woke up in Beulah Land. Delaine was born in Possum Trot, Mississippi, on November 8th, 1943, to his parents, HD Bell and Frances Wilson. He graduated from Pontotoc High School as Class President and Mr. PHS in May of 1963 and wasted no time marrying the love of his life, Beatrice Wilson, on June 8th of the same year. Their 62-year marriage was filled with love and raising their 3 children: Kim Hardin (Scott), Angie Brown (Greg), and Jason Wilson (Leah). For nearly a decade, he ran Stubbs Department Store in downtown Pontotoc before he started his career at Action Lane Furniture. He worked with Action for over 30 years and retired as a Line Foreman; it's rumored his coffee drip stains are still visible on the concrete floor to this day. In the 90s, he "unofficially" changed his name to Papaw. His 6 grandkids include: Kaitlyn Anderson (Jake), Madison Simmons (Brady), Alex Brown, Autumn Nance (Mason), Jack Wilson, and Hatley Wilson, as well as two great-grandchildren: Hardin and Ellis Anderson. He was always up for a "Nature Walk" through the woods and pastures at his house, ball games, recitals, cow shows, horse shows, you name it, he would be there. He'd give the grandkids the biggest kiss on the cheek and almost always had to hold back a tear every time they parted ways. After his family, he loved music and singing just about more than anything in the world. He taught himself how to play the guitar, piano, and drums, and there wasn't a microphone around that was safe from his mic checks, where he'd give it a couple of hard blows, because "I gotta make sure this thing's on". Not many folks start a Rock and Roll band in their 60s, but Delaine, Jerry Mooreman, Gary Carroll, Tony Carroll, and Billy Clay Rogers did just that when they started up "The Dirt Road Band" in 2005. Over the last 20 years, they've played their "Geriatric Rock-and-Roll" at Auctions, Churches, Nursing Homes, and everywhere in between. In recent years, Paul Tackett and Bryson Mooreman have joined the band; all six friends will be serving as pallbearers on Monday. His family will remember his love of Music, Rackin' Horses, Westerns, and Coffee, but mostly we will miss his quiet humor and warm-loving spirit. Delaine served as a Deacon at Thaxton Baptist Church, where he and Bea have been members since 1985. And that's where a Visitation and Funeral will be held for his friends and family. Visitation will be held Sunday, 2:00 - 4:00, and Monday, 11:00 - 1:00, with a funeral following the visitation. Bro. Glenn Reader and Bro. Michael Waldrop will be doing the service. Tutor Memorial Funeral Home of Pontotoc is in charge of arrangements.

If you would like to make donations in Delaine's Memory, the family asks that they be sent to Thaxton Baptist Church or the Sanctuary Hospice House.