Roger Wilkinson

Roger L. Wilkinson, 85, passed away Thursday, August 20, 2020 at his residence surrounded by his family and under the care of Bethany Hospice. He was born July 13, 1935 to Dewey and Mary Matilda Williams Wilkinson and lived here most all of his life, except for a few years in Wilkes, County Georgia. Roger was a 1955 graduate of Glennville High School, where he lettered in football, basketball, baseball, track and was most valuable player on the GHS Region and Sub Region Championship football team. He was also selected on the Class B-All Region football team and the Class B-All State team as quarterback. Roger was awarded a football scholarship to South Georgia College where he was the first quarterback Bobby Bowden ever coached who was considered one of the winningest coaches in college football history. While at South Georgia College, Roger was selected to the National All-American Junior College Championship team as quarterback and was voted most valuable player and most popular player. He was then awarded a scholarship to Austin Peay State University where he only played one year and came home to wed his high school sweetheart Barbara Branch. Roger served in the Georgia National Guard from 1955 to 1964 and is a retired rural letter carrier with the US Postal Service after 32 years of service. He was a member of the National Rural Letter Carrier’s Association where he served as president of the first and tenth districts and was awarded the “Georgia Retired Rural Carrier of the Year”. Roger was also a member of the Kiwanis Club for many years. He enjoyed traveling, golfing, and gardening and was a member of Ebenezer Free Will Baptist Church. Roger is preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Sammy Wilkinson, Bobby Wilkinson, Ann Kortrey and Nell Armstrong.

He is survived by:

Wife of 61 years, Barbara B. Wilkinson of Glennville, Georgia

Children, Vicki Batten (Eric) of Fernandina Beach, Florida
Craig Wilkinson (Melanie) of Rincon, Georgia

Siblings, Gene Wilkinson (Frances)
Alice Wilkinson all of Glennville, Georgia

Grandchildren, Mimi Turrentine, Jenna Turrentine, William Turrentine,
Lawton McClain, Rachel Werner, Scott Batten, Rebecca Caldwell

Several nieces, nephews and other relatives also survive.

Graveside Funeral Services will be held 2:00 pm, Sunday, August 23, 2020 at Ebenezer Free Will Baptist Church Cemetery. CDC social distancing guidelines of six feet apart will be enforced. Masks are not required but recommended.

Pallbearers: William Turrentine, Lawton McClain, Clay Rogers, Cary Rogers, Brad Tatum, Bryant Tatum, Dane Dowdy, Dennis Dowdy

In lieu of flowers remembrances may be made to: Ebenezer Free Will Baptist Church, 1718 Ebenezer Church Rd., Glennville, Georgia 30427.

Care and Services are entrusted to Brannen-Kennedy Funeral Home, Glennville, Georgia.