Edward Howell Wilson, Jr.

Edward Howell Wilson, Jr., 78, of Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina, husband of Susan McFarland Wilson entered into eternal rest Wednesday, November 23, 2022. His celebration of life will be held at Saint Paul Church at 206 E. Chestnut St., Goldsboro, NC at 11:00 am on Saturday, December 10, 2022, with a reception to follow at the church. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc., Mount Pleasant Chapel. Ed Wilson loved beach music, shag dancing, and Sue. He was devoted to the Carolina Tar Heels, enjoyed golf with friends, traveled when he could, played competitive bridge when he must, and adored his children and grandchildren. 

Edward Howell Wilson, Jr. was born on Nov 8, 1944, in Fort Benning, GA . He grew up on a family farm in Caswell County, NC. He earned graduate and undergraduate degrees from the University of North Carolina, and his Doctorate in Adult Education from North Carolina State University. Ed’s professional career began with classroom teaching and ended serving as President of Wayne Community College in Goldsboro. In between he served as a school principal in Wake County, Adjunct Professor at NCSU, President of Roanoke-Chowan Community College, and Executive Vice President of the NC Community College System. In 2004 he was awarded the NC Community College President of the Year and in 2021 Wayne Community College renamed the administrative suite the Dr. Edward H. Wilson, Jr. Administrative Suite. His dedication to public education was voiced in an award acceptance speech when he said, “Whatever we face, our first priority will always be the students.” 

Ed actively served his church and community. He said, “Community service is the price you pay for living on this earth.” Ed lived those words by serving many non-profit organizations in a leadership capacity, including the Wayne County Economic Development Commission, the United Way of Wayne County, the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce, the Wayne County Partnership for Children, Ahoskie Rotary Club, Hertford County Industrial Development Commission, Explorers of the Tuscarora District Boy Scouts, NC Science and Math Alliance, the Wayne County American Cancer Society, Wayne County Charitable Partnership, the Board of Visitors for the UNC School of Education, and many more. 

Ed received numerous public service awards, the Order of the Longleaf Pine (the highest civilian award presented by the governor of NC for lifetime service to the state), the Wayne County Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone award, the United Way Chairmans award, the I.E. Ready Award from the NCSU Dept. of Community College and Adult Education, the NCSU Distinguished Education and Psychology Alumnus award, and was a nominee for the Governor’s Award of Excellence. 

Ed Wilson passed peacefully after a brief illness on November 23, 2022. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Sue McFarland Wilson, and by his children, Steve Wilson of Davidson, NC and Sherri Catalano of Mount Pleasant, SC. He also leaves behind a son-in-law, five grandchildren, a brother and two sisters, all of whom he loved and cherished. Life could be a dream, if I could take you to a paradise up above, Hello hello again, and hoping we’ll meet again, sh-boom (The Chords-1954) 

Memorials may be made to The Foundation of Wayne Community College, www.waynecc.edu/foundation/ The Foundation of Wayne Community College, 3000 Wayne Memorial Dr., Goldsboro, NC 27534. 

A memorial message may be sent to the family by visiting our website at www.jhenrystuhr.com