Jasper Wilson

JASPER LAVON WILSON was born on December 12, 1951, on St. Simons Island, Georgia, to the late Oscar Lee Wilson of Townsend, Georgia, and the late Madlene Jackson Wilson of St. Simons Island, Georgia. Jasper’s family are descendants of Neptune Small whom Neptune Park of St. Simons Island is named after and dedicated to. 

Jasper attended school at Risley Elementary and Risley High School of Brunswick, Georgia, and graduated in May of 1969. He attended Bethune Cookman College in Daytona Beach, Florida, and graduated in 1973 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music. He played the saxophone in the Bethune Cookman Marching Band. He also attended Valdosta State University. 

Jasper worked for Hick’s Piano Company while in high school, and during college, he worked at the Buccaneer Hotel LaQuinta Club on Jekyll Island, Georgia, and later worked part-time at Blanches Courtyard Restaurant on St. Simons Island. When Jasper was seven or nine years old, he worked with his grandmother and mother in their family business, Jackson Apartment Rentals on St. Simons Island. 

After college, Jasper was employed with the Glynn County School System as a Support Teacher and received the Teacher of the Year Award several times. In March of 1975, he became one of two social workers at Coastal Academy. Jasper was a swimming instructor and taught swimming lessons during the summer months at Seldon Park. Upon retirement from teaching, he became a bus driver for the Glynn County school system’s transportation department until he retired. He was also a photographer. 

Jasper was baptized as a Jehovah’s Witness in November of 1979 and served faithfully for 46 years. He formally served as the Congregation Secretary and was appointed as an Elder. Jasper was well-liked and went out of his way to be of assistance to those in the congregation who were in need. Jasper was truly one of Jehovah’s gifts in men. 

Jasper met Alvenia C. Gibbs in high school, and they remained friends for many years and throughout their courtship. They were married December 22, 1979, and from that union, a son was born. They both remained faithful servants of Jehovah until their deaths. 

Jasper L. Wilson passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, after a lengthy illness at Memorial Hospital in Savannah, Georgia. He was preceded in death by his wife, Alvenia C. Gibbs; parents, Oscar Lee and Madlene Jackson Wilson; sister, Mary Collins of Plant City, FL; Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Barnes; Mr. and Mrs. Monroe Palmer, Sr.; Mr. and Mrs. Walter Belton; Mr. Benjamin Palmer; Ms. Illa Williams; and Mrs. Jackie Traeye. 

He leaves to cherish his memories: his son, Douglas B. Wilson; sister, Monica Wilson of Darien, GA; cousins, Diane Rhodes of St. Simons Island, GA, Arnette (Marvin) Curtis of Savannah, GA, De’Alver (John) Arrington and Reginald (Nancy) Palmer, both of Atlanta, GA, Ira Belton of Brunswick, GA, Janice (Mathis) Gibson of Decatur, GA, Michael Traeye, Sr., of Brunswick, GA, Jimmy Morrison of Rio Vista, CA, and Gerry McIver of Townsend, GA; sisters-in-law, Donna M. Gibbs of Brunswick, GA, and Beverly A. McCall of Jacksonville, FL; brothers-in-law, Ernest I. Gibbs of Jacksonville, FL, Charles A. Gibbs and Danny Clay, both of Brunswick, GA, and Reginald Copeland of Atlanta, GA; and a host of other relatives and friends.