Pearlie W. Wilkins

Pearlie Williams Wilkins was born October 1, 1937 in Jackson, North Carolina to the parents of Charlie and Sissie Williams. She attended the Halifax County School System. At an early age she accepted Christ and attended New Jerusalem Holiness Church in Garysburg, North Carolina for many years. In her later years she attended First African Methodist Episcopal Church in Los Angeles, California. 

Pearlie was one that loved life, style and a woman of grace. She didn’t mind going for things that made her happy and doing something she really enjoyed. She knew instantly, North Carolina wasn’t where she wanted to be. She moved to Portsmouth, Virginia in 1958 where she worked at the Smith and Weldon Department Store. Later moving to Vallejo, California where she worked on Mare Island Navy Base. She later moved to Los Angeles, where she worked as a Supervised Dietician, Cook II, for 22 years with the State of California, Department of Corrections where she retired on disability in April 1995. She enjoyed her latter years in Silver Spring, Maryland with her daughter, grandson and family dog, Cooper. She also liked reading her “Big Print” Bible and could quote scriptures like you wouldn’t believe.

Pearlie was always a lover of life and the life of a party. She was a great dancer and could hang with the best (even in her 80’s). She was a Casino and Racetrack lover. Her favorite saying was “Let’s Go To The Casino.” It was her joy and the one thing she didn’t need company for. She believed the world didn’t owe her a thing because everything she did, she did it her way. She loved to dress up and wore only name brand clothing and shoes. And you best believe the purse had to match her shoes and the hat had to go with the whole outfit. She had style, she had class, she had grace and she had an “aire” about herself that made you look the minute she walked into a room. She loved to cook and loved people, a true “crowd-pleaser” and people loved her. She was the only person that could make you laugh, mad, cry all at the same time. She knew just how to bring out every emotion you had in your body. She was a lover of “Patron” and was at her funniest when indulging. She would give you her last dime and was always willing to help anybody. She never looked down on no one. And although she had a 9th grade education, she was smart, bright and quite brilliant. She had “Mother With!” She was wise and a woman full of wisdom. She had so many “sayings’ that help you get through life, we would always say “Pearlie Mae’s Book of Wisdom.” She was independent and definitely a one of a kind.

In January 1958 in Emporia, Virginia, she joined holy matrimony with Willie Marion Wilkins. During their union an adored and much-loved daughter was born, Marie. She was the love of her life along with her adorable grandson Wesley, whom she cherished. Although Pearl and Willie later divorced in 1969, they remained the best of friends until her death.

Pearl departed this life on Friday, May 15, 2020. She was preceded in death by her parents (Charlie and Sissie Williams), three brothers (Willie, George, Charlie and two sisters (Minnie and Beulah Mae.) She leaves to cherish her memories her devoted daughter Marie Carter and her grandson Wesley Carter of Silver Spring, Maryland, one loving brother Curtis Williams (Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina) one sister-in-law Jean Williams, a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends and extended California family.

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