Mrs. Edna Mae Wilson

WILSON, Mrs. Edna Mae - Age 105, passed away Thursday, April 2, 2015 in Aurora, IL. Family hour 10 a.m. Thursday, April 9, 2015 at Quinn Chapel A.M.E., 2102 Lippincott Blvd., with funeral service commencing at 11 a.m. Interment Sunset Hills Association, G-4413 Flushing Rd. Friends and pallbearers will assemble at the church 10 a.m. Thursday. Mrs. Wilson will lie in state in the Chapel of Lawrence E. Moon Funeral Home, 906 W. Flint Park Blvd., and may be viewed from 12 p.m. - 8 p.m. Wednesday. Edna Mae Wilson was born in Paulding, Ohio in 1909. She was the oldest child born to Mr. & Mrs. Fred and Myrtle Mae (Holley) Harris. At 5 years of age her parents moved to Coalmen, MI. Many black families, including her grandparents, the Holley’s and the Harris’, all moved into the country surrounding Coalmen where they established moderate sized farms. Edna dropped out of high school when her mother became ill and she needed to help with her younger siblings. At 18 years of she moved to Flint. One of her first jobs was as a cook to Linda Ronstadt’s (the singer) grandparents, the Copermans. They were interviewing applicants for 2 jobs, a housekeeper and a cook. Edna applied for the cook’s job. Mrs. Coperman said “anyone that can bake a pie like this can cook”. They hired her as a cook. She also worked as an elevator operator and in a clothing store in downtown Flint. As a young single lady, Edna had many friends. Many of her young siblings moved to Flint as they got older. At age 23, Edna married Harold P. Wilson. They were married in the 1930’s. He died at 68 years of age. The couple had 3 children. The oldest child died in infancy. Their 2 daughters were Margaret Ann and Janet Mae who died at the age of 28. Edna was a stay at home mom. Edna and Harold both doted on their only grandson, Kenneth Earl Banks III. He was born on the same day the Edna’s brother Kenneth died, “one coming and one going”. Kenneth III spent a lot of time with his grandparents. Edna had many interests. She was always taking classes which ranged from sewing, to various crafts and self-improvement classes. She was a good seamstress and taught her daughters how to sew. For a number of years she was a Hurley Hospital Volunteer. She belong to Eastern Star and other various clubs and organizations, such as Smart Set Bridge Club and church clubs. When the family moved to the country she integrated the neighborhood club, as Margaret Ann integrated the Montrose School System. In their later years, Edna and Harold bought a trailer and went to Arizona yearly. At the age of 78 she moved into a senior’s apartment, Grand Meadows in Grand Blanc, MI. She was very active and participated in many of the activities offered. She lived there for 32 years. Edna stopped driving when she turned 100 years old. At the age of 103 she moved to Cleveland, OH to live with her daughter. In the fall of 2014 she moved to Naperville, IL to live with her grandson and his family. Her grandson, Kenneth Earl Banks III and wife Blanca own a home health agency and they provided the best care to Edna. She and her grandson had a special bond and during her last months of life, she appeared to be very happy living with her beloved grandson, his wife and her great-grandson.

Mrs. Edna Mae Wilson

December 12, 1909 - April 2, 2015