WILSON, Gussie

(Maiden Name: Brown)

The Daily Courier, Prescott, Arizona Thursday, March 10, 2011 Gussie Brown Wilson was born Jan. 29, 1913, in Oklahoma City, Okla., the last of five siblings born to Juanita Beaty and Ruffin Brown. Gussie attended Langston University in Oklahoma and Fisk University in Nashville, Tenn. She taught in Kansas City and Oklahoma before moving to Phoenix, Ariz., in the mid-1940s, teaching at Carver High School. Gussie moved to Los Angeles, Calif., in the mid-1950s, where she taught at Pierce College for 25 years before retiring in 1975. While in Phoenix, she was a member of the advisory board that formed the Desert School Federal Credit Union. She remained an active member of the Phoenix Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Inc. In 1974 she married Booker T. Wilson Sr., fire chief, USAF (ret.), and moved to Prescott, Ariz., where they enjoyed the weather and golf. Until Booker's death in 2003, they hosted many relatives, friends and former students. Gussie's only child, LaRue Johnson, preceded her in death. Her stepson, Darrell DeSilva, preceded her in death also. She has six surviving grandchildren: Zenovia, Manuel, Michael, Juanita, Benjamin and Emil; and many great-grandchildren. Also surviving her are stepchildren Booker T. Wilson Jr., Frank Wilson, Burnierose L. Wilson and Randall Wilson, and step-grandchildren Darrellyn, Scott, Guy, Dara, Lance, Jeremy, Joshua, Jennifer, Jillian, Wilson, Allegra, Jonathan, Heather and Joel. Visitation will be Monday, March 14, 2011, from 3 to 6 p.m. at Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home, 303 S. Cortez St., Prescott. A celebration of Gussie's life will be 1 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, 2011, at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Garden of Hope I Serenity Mausoleum, in the chapel. Family suggests contributions be made in Gussie's name to the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Phoenix Metropolitan Alumnae Chapter, P.O. Box 25576, Phoenix, AZ 85002. You may visit and sign Gussie's guestbook at www.ruffnerwakelin.com. Arizona Ruffner Wakelin Funeral Home assisted the family. Information provided by survivors.
Posted by Judy Wight Branson on March 14, 2011

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