Wallace Vernon Wilkins, “Silky” was called to eternal rest on June 11, 2017. He was a well-known Norfolk native who was born April 11, 1936 to the late Wallace “Tommy” Wilkins Sr. and the late Melrose B. Wilkins.
Wallace attended Booker T. Washington High School and later joined the U. S. Air Force. He completed 4 years of service and was honorably discharged in 1959. Soon afterwards, he went to work at the Norfolk Ford Assembly Plant, becoming one of the plant’s earliest African American employees. He retired after 40 years of service.
In 1962, he married the late Vivian Joyner Wilkins, and to that union they had four children.
Wallace was very sociable. He enjoyed meeting people and instantly made friends of all ages and walks of life. He was an avid golfer, who he learn to play with his brother Richard. He was a stylish man with a love of music, especially smooth jazz and Cadillacs. He was especially happy whenever he could hear his brother Maestro, Thomas Wilkins, conduct symphonies.
In 2000, he married his loving and devoted wife, Veronica C. Wilkins who he met because of her love for jazz. Wallace is a member of Jerusalem Baptist Church, Norfolk VA.
He leaves to cherish his memories: his wife Veronica C. Wilkins, Daughters: Adrienne B. Conaway, (the late LeCounte Conaway), Belinda Osborne, (Michael), Vanita R. Taylor, all of Newport News, VA and Son: Michael V. Wilkins (Sherita) of Sterling, VA. He also leaves 10 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren; Two brothers: Richard Wilkins, (Henrietta), NYC, and Thomas Wilkins, (Sheri-Lee), Omaha Nebraska. His special cousins, Kathleen Edwards, and Arthur M. Edwards. He is also dearly missed by his loving mother-in -law, Yvonne Collins, and host of relatives and friends.
The celebration of life will begin with a wake on June 19, 2017 and Graves Funeral Services at 6 PM; and funeral services on June 20, 2017, 11 AM at Jerusalem Baptist Church, Norfolk, VA.
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