Sue Wilkes

SUE WILKES

Velma Sue Gore Wilkes, age 90, died Saturday December 18, 2021 at Garden Hill Assisted Living. Services will be held Wednesday December 22, 2021 at 2:00 p.m. at the 903 College Street Chapel of Memorial Gunter Peel Funeral Home & Crematory with Rev. Melvin Mordecai officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held Wednesday from noon until service time at the funeral home.

Mrs. Wilkes was born on February 4, 1931 in Pine Grove, AL to the late James William Gore and Minnie Lou Cloer Gore. She was a 1949 graduate of New Hope High School where she was honored to be named Miss New Hope High. She played piano by ear and was a member of the senior band that played at the local nursing homes. She married Henry Clay Wilkes, Jr. on September 10, 1955. They were married 66 years until his death on October 17, 2021. Together they had three children, four grandchildren, and one great grandson, who fondly called her “Mimi”. She was a loving wife, mother, Mimi, homemaker, pianist, gardener, friend, and breast cancer survivor. For many years she served with the “Reach to Recovery”, after her battle with breast cancer. Mrs. Wilkes enjoyed flowers, hummingbirds, and butterflies in her garden on Browder Street, where she was known to share flower cuttings with family, friends, and neighbors. After her children were grown, she worked at Beltone Hearing Service for Clint Dean from 1985-1995.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Henry Clay Wilkes, Jr., her sisters, Annie Lou Brown, Frances Steverson, brothers, Albert, Bud, Clyde, Arthur, Gayron, and Clifton.

Survivors include:

Children:

Steven Clay Wilkes (Paula), Caledonia, MS

Cathy Wilkes Bailey, Columbus, MS

Connie Wilkes Stein (Jason), Henderson, NV

Grandchildren:

Bryan Clay Bailey (Heather), Columbus, MS; Lauren Ann Wilkes, Birmingham, AL; Anna Cate Bailey (John Ross) Wright Columbus, MS; Stephanie Beth Wilkes, Atlanta, GA.

Great Grandchild:

Carter Ross Wright of Columbus, MS

and a host of nieces & nephews

Serving as Pallbearers will be:

John Gore, Doug Brown, Donnie Brown, Jim Gore, Randy Edmonson, and Eddy Richey

Serving as honorary pallbearers will be:

Senior volunteer band, Browder Street Neighbors, Joe Reeder, Gerry Burnett, Jason Stein, Fred Richardson, and Ray Gore

The family would like to express a heartfelt thank you to:

Staff of Garden Hill Assisted Living, Mary Vaughn, and Baptist Hospice

Memorials may be made to:

St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

501 St. Jude Place

Memphis, TN 38105

Or to a charity of your choice