Jerry L. Wilkes

Mr. Jerry L. Wilkes, age 87, Vidalia, died Thursday, September 30, 2021, at the Community Hospice House in Vidalia after an extended illness.  He was a native of Oak Park, and he and his family moved to Vidalia in 1943.  In 1952, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he was a firefighter, and served our country four years.  He worked with Gulf Life Insurance Company for several years, later working with Threlkeld Motor Company, Chickasha Mobile Homes, and more recently worked with Shoney’s in Vidalia as a night auditor. He was Baptist by faith; and he enjoyed fishing, dove hunting, vehicles, watching wrestling, and was a sports fan.  He is preceded in death by a granddaughter, Sasha Dyan Mixon; his parents, Wilder Jordan Wilkes and Alma Price Wilkes; four brothers, and one sister.

His family includes his wife of sixty-three years, Christine Tapley Wilkes of Vidalia; two children, Buck Randall Wilkes of Ft. Pierce, Florida, and Cindy Mixon of Lyons; three grandchildren, Anthony Wilkes and wife Megan of South Carolina, Kayla Purcell and husband Mike of Tucson, Arizona, and Camille Mixon Smith and husband Caleb of Lyons; nine great-grandchildren, Brayden, Lealyn, Emmie, Ellie, Peyton, Ridge, Izzybelle,  Weston, and Drake; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside funeral service will be Monday, October 4th, at 11:00 a.m. at Lakeview Memorial Gardens with Mr. Chad Mosley officiating.

The family will receive friends at the cemetery from 10:00 until just prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 4849 Paulsen St., Suite 102, Savannah, GA 31405.  

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