O. Kent Wilson

Published 4:05 pm Monday, January 29, 2024

O. Kent Wilson, 77, Johnson City, finished his earthly walk on January 26, 2024. He joined in heaven his father and mother, Kenneth Wilson and Norma Hale Wilson, and sisters, Phyllis Wilson Morris and Mary Kaye Wilson.
Kent was called early to be a minister of the gospel. Starting at 15 years old, he began ministering to small mountain churches. This was his passion in life. In order to support himself after graduating from Johnson Bible College with a Bachelor of Divinity degree, he earned his Bachelor of Science degree from ETSU and taught school in Carter County, Tenn., for 30 years. Most of Kent’s teaching career was at Happy Valley Middle School where he was loved by faculty and students. He would be greeted by many when he shopped in Elizabethton and Johnson City. He would always stop, talk and laugh with them.
His church ministry included several mountain churches in northeast Tennessee and western North Carolina. He was currently ministering at Sonshine Church of Christ, Butler, Tenn. He was in his 63rd year of leading people to the Lord.
He leaves here on earth, two sisters, Sharron Carr, Galivants Ferry, S.C., and Ardith Sheffield, Elizabethton, Tenn.; four nephews, Shon Morris, Michael Morris, Brock Shanks and Jared Sheffield; twin nieces, Haley Sheffield Noe and Holly Sheffield Stauffer; a very special cousin, Mark Banks; along with many other cousins and extended family.
Many thanks to the nurses on the 2nd Floor at Franklin Woods Hospital and the ICU nurses, especially Andrew, who cared for him with such love and tenderness, and Dr. Lincoln Olson. His family appreciates the superior care this group provided.
His impact on lives through his church ministry and teaching was great. Well done, Kent! Enter into the joys of your Lord and Savior. Your family praises Jesus for your 77 years with us. We’ll see you again in Heaven!
A celebration of Kent’s life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 3, at Memorial Funeral Chapel Visitation of family and friends will be from 12 until 1 p.m. Interment will be immediately after the service at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Mark Banks, Jared Sheffield, Brock Shanks, Joshua Noe, Justin Stauffer and David Carr. Honorary pallbearers will be Monroe Johnson, Tim Furches, Shon Morris, Michael Morris and the Sonshine Church of Christ Family. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to Sonshine Church of Christ Building Fund c/o Randle Johnson 1415 Hwy. 133, Shady Valley, TN 37688. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website: www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Wilson Family.