Jem R. Wilson - MILLEN - Mrs. Jem Rogers Wilson, 94, died Friday, January 06, 2012 at her residence.

Survivors: son, John F. Wilson; brother-in-law, Edward Wilson; two cousins, Eleanor Akin and Albert Paulk; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Saturday at Crowe-Fields Funeral Home. Graveside services will be held Sunday at 3:00 pm in the Millen Cemetery.

Crowe-Fields Funeral Home, Millen Savannah Morning News January 7, 2012.

Published in Savannah Morning News on January 7, 2012


MILLEN, Ga. - Mrs. Jem Rogers Wilson, 94, died Friday, January 06, 2012 at her residence. Graveside services will be held Sunday at 3:00 pm in the Millen Cemetery with the Rev. Bernie Khaw officiating. On October 12, 1917 in Candler County she became the 8th child of Joseph Franklin and Hattie Beasley Rogers. She was one of nine daughters and a brother, who died in infancy. She was a Basketball player for Pulaski High in Portal before going to Moores Branch School in Swainsboro to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a hairdresser. At the age of 18 she began her professional life at the Vanity Box, a store in Millen, under the direction of Mrs. Dean Brinson. Several years later she opened her own shop on Daniel Street in Millen. In the late 1930s, she met and married Lamar F. Wilson, December 28, 1940 and became his Bobby Sock bride according to her father-in-law, John C. Wilson. In 1953, she built Jems Beauty Shop on Winthrope Ave. with Louise Lane and Eurice Edenfield as additional operators. There she enjoyed what she loved best, doing hair and talking to her customers for 76 years. She never met a stranger, always loved to talk and claimed kin to anyone she met. Through the years she held shop once a week at Bethany Nursing Home and worked closely with the staff and also worked closely with Crowe-Fields Funeral Home. She trained many young ladies in the field including her niece Betty Jo Daniel, who stayed until 1960. In 1978 Kytrina Wilson joined the shop. They worked together until 1981 until Jem transferred ownership to her. Jem still had an active chair there until 2002 when she became ill. Jem was the oldest member of the Millen United Methodist Church, Joy Circle, and President of the Epworth Sunday School Class, charter member of the United Methodist Women, and also taught middle grade Sunday School. She was a member of the Edith Cavelle Chapter Order of the Eastern Star and the V. F. W. Auxiliary. During her 68 years of marriage to Lamar, she enjoyed many trips with Purina and the Rotary Club. Having a passion for dancing, in 1985 she and Lamar joined a Ballroom Dancing Club in Augusta and enjoyed competing all over the Southeast bringing home many trophies.

Survivors include a son, John F. Wilson of Millen; a brother-in-law, Edward Wilson of Millen; two cousins, Eleanor Akin of Statesboro and Albert Paulk of Eden; and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm Saturday at Crowe-Fields Funeral Home. Crowe-Fields Funeral Home, Inc. P O Box 876; 364 E. Winthrope Ave. Millen, GA 30442

Published in The Augusta Chronicle on January 7, 2012