Ernest Clay Wilson, Jr.

Born:  August 18, 1924

Garrett, Texas

Deceased: April 18, 2021

Longview, Texas

Preceded in death by:

Wife:  Billie Frances Haynie Wilson (married on September 12, 1947)

Son: James David Wilson

Parents:  Ernest Clay Wilson, Sr. and Myrtle Virginia Kirby Wilson

Brother: Clyde Wilson

Sister: Martha Luksa

Survived by

Daughter in law, Kerstin West Wilson

Son, Robert Bruce Wilson & Cathy

Son, Mark Daniel Wilson & Liz

Son, Michael Lee Wilson & Donna

16 grandchildren and 24 great grandchildren

Ernest Wilson was raised in Garrett, Texas.  As a child, he picked crops with his family.  As a young man, he served in the Navy during World War II.  After being discharged in 1945, he began his university studies.  He married his sweetheart, Billie Francis Haynie, in 1947.  As he taught school and coached, he earned his Bachelor's degrees of Religion and Education, and a Master's degree of Education.  He began full-time pastorate at Kyle, Texas, and later moved to pastor in Wheatly, KY while he earned his Master of Divinity from the Southern Baptist Seminary in Louisville, KY.

In 1958, Ernest and his family answered the call to missions in Brazil.  Over the next 32 years, the Brazilian people would become his greatest passion.  While he filled a variety of roles with some impressive titles, he focused on raising up Brazilian pastors and pastoring the most neglected, struggling churches.  Ernest earned a Doctorate of Divinity and finished out his time in Brazil teaching at the Baptist Seminary in Goiania, but his heart was that of a pastor.

After his retirement in 1991, Ernest continued advocating for missions and pastoring struggling churches.  Mainly, he assisted his wife in her quest to spoil all her grandchildren.  In the twilight years of his life, he spent the bulk of his time caring for the increasing needs of his wife, his life-long ministry partner.  Even though this last year was filled with the isolation from losing his wife and the isolation brought by a global pandemic, Ernest was grateful and thankful to God for a long life and his family.