Celestine Wilson

Celestine Wilson, Born 07/11/1937-06/21/2019, Warren, Michigan. “God saw you were getting tired, so he put his arms around you and whispered come to me” F. & K. Coelho.

Celestine, the beloved daughter of Van and Josephine Dailey of Atmore, Ala., strong and devoted wife of Mr. Percy Wilson of Baldwin, LA., and the loving mother to Terry, Ronnie, Joyce, Michael, Beverly, and Randy, went home to be with our Lord in heaven.

At the Wilson household, family means the gathering of relatives, friends, and neighbors at her home. It was through mom’s generosity that opened her home to many friends who endured life challenges. She was an excellent cook who made the best southern soul-food favorites and did not hesitate to share with others.

Mom left Atmore, made a brief stop in Birmingham, Ala, while on the way to New York City. She cleaned houses, worked as a catalog model, and then for a short time as a nurse aide. In Harlem, she met this confident young soldier named Percy, who looked like the actor Sidney Poitier. He impressed her with tickets to see Mr. James Brown at the Apollo Theatre. They soon married in Bayside, NY. They grew their new family while traveling the U.S. to our father’s next military assignment. It was during that time that mom earned her diploma as a Cosmetologist, and she was in high demand on the military bases. After Percy’s European assignments, the Wilson family moved to Detroit and eventually settled in Warren, MI. Mom took advantage of the lucrative jobs offered at General Motors-Cadillac division until her retirement. In her retirement, mom loved going to and winning at the Greektown Casino. When she won, everybody won. She would share some of her winnings with her grandchildren. She was baptized as a child in Alabama but became a member of the Tree of Life Baptist Church with Rev. Nathan A. Proche’ presiding on Belvidere street in Detroit.

Mom is now and will forever be missed by all. She was preceded in death by her parents Van and Josephine Dailey, Her husband Percy Wilson in 1991, her son Terry Wilson in 2011, Siblings Frank Dailey, Lucy Mae Dailey, Anna Mae Gulley, Daniel Dailey, Robert Dailey, Van Dailey Jr., Arthur Dailey, Michael Patrick (Mack) Dailey. She is survived by sisters Iola Reevers of Detroit, MI and Lois Bickford of Boston, MA. Her children Ron (Brenda), Joyce (Stephen), Michael (Michelle), Beverly, and Randy (Pam). She was so proud of her grandchildren LaQuita Hasberry, Charlene Nelson, Teresa White, Augeli Wilson, Kisha (Kenny) Troupe, Terrance Wilson, Breanna Eder, Daniel Eder, Michael Eder, Erica Wilson, Ashley Wilson, Gabrielle Wilson, Jazmin Wilson, and Donovan Wilson. There are also several great-grandchildren. We are grateful to a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, in-laws from Atmore, Alabama, Boston, MA, Atlanta, GA, Gainesville, FLA, and Detroit who called to check in on mom.

A very special thank you to Ms. Clara Hasberry for her friendship and caring support for our mother. Thank you to the medical teams who cared for our mother throughout the years.

Funeral services and visitation will take place at the James H. Cole funeral home on W. Grand Blvd in Detroit, MI. Visitation starts at 2 pm until 8 pm on Wednesday, June 26, 2019. A family hour will begin at 10 am on Thursday, June 27, followed by the service at 11 am.
Charitable donations can be sent to:

www.stjudes.org
www.elmwoodhistoriccemetery.org
http://www.sacredheartdetroit.com/

Sincerely,
The Family of Celestine Wilson