B.J. Wilson

B. J. Wilson, 59, died on Sunday, September 7, 2008 in Okmulgee. She was born in Lexington, Kentucky on August 26, 1949 to Claude and Edith (Blackburn) Abney.

B. J. was a member of the honorary Phi Theta Kappa fraternity for academic excellence during college studies. In 1977 she was inducted into the Honorable Order of the Kentucky Colonels in recognition for her outstanding community and career achievements. She enlisted in the Navy in 1980 and served as a "Data Systems Technician"; during her service she was awarded the Good Conduct Award. She was honorably discharged in 1986 and joined E-Systems to work on computer systems where she met her husband. B. J. and Frank Wayne Wilson were married May 21, 1988 and spent twenty years together until her untimely death. She completed the curricula for an LPN and was certified, while an LPN she worked as a frontier nurse in the Appalachian Mountains delivering babies and attending to patient needs in remote areas. While working at Blue Cross and Blue Shield she started one of the first renal failure departments in order to assist patients with their financial needs. B. J. was a strong activist for battered children’s rights.

B. J. was preceded in death by her parents and three brothers. She is survived by her husband Frank of the home, one daughter, Tanya Hurst of Virginia, one son, Jeremy Bolick of Okmulgee, two grandchildren, Zachary Bolick and Britney Hurst, and a brother Kenny Abney of Kentucky, and her father-in-law, Frank Wilson of Morris.

Services will be on Wednesday, September 10, 2008 at 2:00 P.M. at the Morris United Methodist Church with Reverend Nathan Mattox officiating. Committal services will follow at the Morris Cemetery Chapel. Viewing will be on Tuesday from 12:00 Noon until 8:00 P.M. with visitation from 5:00 P.M. until 7:00 P.M. at the McClendon-Winters Funeral Home in Okmulgee. Services are under the direction of McClendon-Winters Funeral Home of Okmulgee and online condolences may be made at mcclendon-winters.com

In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to the United Methodist Church, the Salvation Army, or St. Judes Children’s Research Hospital.