Ernest Clay Wilson, Jr. was born August 18, 1924 in Garrett, Texas, son of Ernest Clay Wilson and Myrtle Virginia Kirby Wilson.  Ernest was raised in Garrett, Texas.  As a child, he picked crops with his family.  As a young man, he served in the Navy during World War II.  After being discharged in 1945, he began his university studies.  He married his sweetheart, Billie Francis Haynie in 1947.  As he taught school and coached, he earned his Bachelor 's degrees of Religion and Education, and a Master's degree of Education.  He began his full-time pastorate at Kyle, Texas and later moved to pastor in Wheatly, Kentucky while he earned his Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky.
In 1958 Ernest and his family answered the call to missions in Brazil.  Over the next 32 years, the Brazilian people would become his greatest passion.  While he filled a variety of roles with some impressive titles, he focused on raising up Brazilian pastors and pastoring the most neglected struggling churches.  Ernest earned a Doctorate of Divinity and finished out his time in Brazil teaching at the Baptist Seminary in Goiania, but his heart was that of a pastor.
After his retirement in 1991, Ernest continued advocating for missions and pastoring struggling churches. Mainly, he assisted his wife in her quest to spoil all her grandchildren.  In the twilight years of his life, he spent the bulk of his time caring for the increasing needs of his wife, his life-long ministry partner.  Even though this last year was filled with the isolation from losing his wife and the isolation brought by a global pandemic, Ernest was grateful and thankful to God for a long life and his family.
He was preceded in death by his wife; son, James David Wilson; parents; brother Clyde Wilson; sister, Martha Luska.
He is survived by his daughter-in-law, Kerstin West Wilson; son, Robert Bruce Wilson and wife, Cathy; son, Mark Daniel Wilson and wife, Liz; son, Michael Lee Wilson and wife, Donna; 16 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Mr. Wilson passed away Sunday, April 18, 2021 at Longvie, Texas.  A graveside service was held at Akers Cemetery, Sherman, Texas on Wednesday afternoon, April 21, 2021.


Billie Frances Wilson, 91,  passed away Thursday, January 23, 2020 in Sherman, Texas.
Billie grew up in the Sherman-Denison area and graduated from Denison High School in 1946.  After marrying Ernest in 1947, she served as a devoted pastor's wife at churches in Texas and Kentucky, while earning an education degree at Southwestern Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.  Along with her husband and son, Billie's ministry continued when the family moved to Brazil, serving as missionary there for the next 30 years.  During that time, she taught Religious Education Studies at Goiania Baptist Seminary in Goiania, Brazil and mentored countless women in their faith and in life.
Billie retired from full-time ministry in 1990 and returned to live in Texas.  Her heart and her passion flame for serving her family, other women and children in education and in serving Jesus.  She lived Proverbs 31.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Georgia Jewel Haynie and Lacie Lee Haynie; sister, Pat Breeden; brother, Jim Haynie; and son, James David Wilson.
Billie is survived by her husband of 72 years; daughter-in-law, Kerstin West Wilson; son, Robert Bruce Wilson and wife, Cathy; son, Mark Daniel Wilson and wife, Liz; son, Michael Lee Wilson and wife, Donna; 16 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and sister, Elizabeth Strickland.
Memorial services were held at Trinity Baptist Church Sunday afternoon, January 26, 2020.  Rev. Jason Anderson officiated. - - - Waldo Funeral Home

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