Obituary - Joel Preston Wilkerson

WILKERSON, Joel Preston, 91, of Henrico, Va., went home to be with the Lord on February 11, 2021. He was born on October 5, 1929, in Gladys, Va. He was preceded in death by his parents, Thomas Clarence Wilkerson (TC) and Ady Roakes Layne Wilkerson; brothers, Thomas, Frank and Basil; sisters, Kathleen Jordan, Bernice Williams and Edna Williams; his first wife, Ruth Driskill Wilkerson; his two infant daughters, Kathryn Gail and Judy Lynn; and his son, Keith Wilkerson. He is survived by his present wife, Shirley P. Wilkerson; two granddaughters, Anne W. Swinson (Josh) and Brandi Freeland; great-grandchildren, Preston Swinson and Kassie Freeland; and his brother, Charles (Geraldine) of Forest, Va. He is also survived by his nephews, Thomas Wilkerson Jr., Glenn Wilkerson, R.O. Williams III, Mike Williams, Dickie Jordan, David Jordon and Donald Jordon; and nieces, P. Kaye Wilkerson and Inga Wilkerson. Joel served in the U.S. Navy from 1946 to 1951, serving as a control tower operator in Rhode Island and in Trinidad. He was a machinist by trade and worked at the N&W Railroad Shops in Roanoke, Va., proudly helping to build steam engines, prior to moving to Richmond in the 1960s. He was retired from Alcoa Aluminum, formerly Reynold’s Aluminum. He loved the Lord and was in fellowship at Grace Gospel Chapel where he served as an elder. Joel also loved music, especially Christian music, and was an accomplished guitar player. A graveside service will be held 2 p.m. Wednesday, February 17, 2021, at Fort Hill Memorial Park, 5196 Fort Avenue, Lynchburg, Va. 24502. A memorial service will be held at a later date at Grace Gospel Chapel in Richmond, Va. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Grace Gospel Chapel, 1201 Spirea Rd., North Chesterfield, Va.