Miriam Randall Wilder, age 99, of Columbus, MS, passed away September 30, 2013, at Peach Tree Village of Brandon, MS, where she was a resident. Funeral services will be Thursday, October 3, 2013, at 2:00 PM at Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Farley Earnest of Brandon, MS, officiating. The interment will immediately follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday, October 3, 2013, from 1:00 PM until the time of the service at Memorial Funeral Home. Miriam Wilder was the youngest of eight children. Her mother, Etta Smith Randall, lived with Jim and Miriam Wilder from the mid 1940's until her death in 1966. Yearly family reunions were held at the Wilders where teenage friends and family gathered to participate in backyard football, dances and slumber parties. Many generations of young people knew that they were always welcome in her home where good food was always in abundance. Mrs. Wilder graduated from high school in three years and was able to attend Mississippi State College for Women for one year because a brother paid her tuition. The next year tuition increased and she was no longer able to continue. Jim and Miriam Wilder were married from July 26, 1936 until his death June 25, 1973. He was chairman of the board of deacons at First Baptist Church Columbus when he died. From 1940 - 1945, Miriam packed parachutes at Columbus Air Force Base. She was the city tennis champion in the 1950's. Mrs. Wilder was an avid reader, Atlanta Braves and tennis fan, and loved working crossword puzzles. She was one of the original sponsors of the Central Mississippi Down Syndrome Society. "Mama Widdy" as she was affectionately called by her grandchildren and great grandchildren was a long time active member of First Baptist Columbus where she taught Sunday School for many years. She was an avid duplicate bridge player and served as director of several bridge groups for years. In 2005, she was recognized as a Golden Age Master of the American Contract Bridge League. At the age of 92, Mrs. Wilder was diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer's disease. She moved to Peach Tree Retirement Village in Brandon, MS, near daughter Karen Crowe where she lived the last years of her life. Until the disease progressed, she kept her sense of humor and a twinkle in her eye. Her favorite past time was looking through numerous photo albums, especially from her 90th, 95th, and 99th birthday celebrations filled with photographs, cards, and letters from family, friends, and fellow bridge players. She spent many, many hours reading her cards and viewing pictures over and over. The personal letters revealed the high esteem with which Mrs. Wilder was regarded. She had no idea of the positive impact she had on generations of young people who were frequent visitors to her home as documented in the letters written to her. Survivors include her children, James "Jimmy" William Wilder, Jr. and his wife Jean of Columbus, MS, Sandra Murphy and her husband Paul of Louisville, KY, Karen Crowe and her husband Ron of Brandon, MS, George Wilder and his wife Madeliene of Montgomery, AL, and David Wilder and his wife Sue of Casselberry, FL, and 13 grandchildren. Pallbearers will be David Paul Freeman, Shane Crowe, Kevin Crowe, Davis Wilder, Grady "Bubba" Randall, and Christopher Murphy. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Mission Program, P.O. Box 829, Columbus, MS, 39703. The family wishes to thank the staff of Peach Tree Retirement Village for their love and care for Mrs. Wilder for over seven years. Special thanks to Dr. Kathy Gregg and Cindy Jayroe of St. Joseph Hospice Ministry. Words cannot express our appreciation to her special caregivers the last days of her life: Melony Anderson, Sherry Wallace, Yolanda Thurman, Britney Henry, Sheila Rhodes, Penny Beennan, and Linda Boyd
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