From The North Jefferson News, March 31, 2008:
The City of Gardendale is mourning the loss of a true local legend this week.
Martha Wilson, regarded by her peers as a pioneer in civic and business leadership, passed away Thursday at the age of 76.
Wilson was known first and foremost as the proprietor of Wilson’s Florist, which opened in 1963.
Martha WIlson’s daughter, Rosilyn Wilson, said the florist started on the family’s front porch in Mt. Olive before moving to Fultondale. She said the business had been in Gardendale for the last 30 years.
Rosilyn Wilson said despite the success of the floral business, her mother’s dream was to open a wedding chapel. She said Martha Wilson had the idea for the chapel after attending a wedding.
“The next day she started drawing up plans for the chapel,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “That was her dream ... She saw a need for that in the community.”
The chapel opened in 1993. Rosilyn Wilson said a wedding is held at the chapel just about every weekend during wedding season.
Gardendale business owner Bob Boffa said he had a great deal of respect for Martha Wilson and her approach to business, and for her dedication to the city’s “mom and pop” businesses. Wilson was also instrumental in forming the city’s chamber of commerce.
“She was a living legend,” Boffa said. “She was what the mom and pops are all about. She gave you personal service, which is a dying way of doing business.”
Boffa said he also respected Wilson because of her faith and kind-heartedness.
“She was the kind of person who was always approachable and a woman of God,” he said. “The family has lost a mom and we’ve lost a friend in Martha Wilson.”
Gardendale Mayor Kenny Clemons praised Wilson’s efforts in helping to beautify the city. Wilson was a member of several garden and flower clubs, the Jefferson County Beautification Board and was also a part of the city’s America in Bloom beautification efforts.
“She was an icon as far as beautification goes,” Clemons said. “She had a vision for Gardendale a long time ago, and she did everything she could to make it happen.”
Clemons also praised Wilson’s pride in the city and the encouragement she gave to local leaders.
“She was always very positive about everything she said about the city,” he said. “She’s someone who left the city in a lot better place than she found it.”
In addition to Wilson’s work with beautification clubs and the chamber of commerce, she was also an active Rotarian.
Fellow Rotarian Gary Bailey said one of Wilson’s biggest accomplishments for the club was as an organizer of the city’s first Magnolia Festival, now in its seventh year. Bailey said Wilson coordinated all the vendors for the inaugural festival.
Rotary Club President Aaron Box said Wilson’s passing leaves “tremendous shoes to fill.” He also called her a model Rotarian.
“I wish I could write what Mrs. Martha was on a piece of paper and pass out copies to every Rotarian and citizen in Gardendale,” Box said. “If we all tried to be a little more like Martha, Gardendale wouldn’t just be a great city, it would be the greatest city on earth.”
For the the past several years, Wilson wrote weekly columns titled “Remembering the Good Old Days,” which appeared in The North Jefferson News. Her topic of discussion focused on how residents lived back in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rosilyn Wilson said her mom enjoyed writing the articles and said customers at Wilson’s florist would sometimes tell her that Martha Wilson’s columns were the “only reason why they read the paper.”
Harvey Webb, former editor of The North Jefferson News, called Wilson one of his favorite sources and said she was a walking history book of Gardendale and Fultondale. Wilson actually helped write Gardendale’s history in “Gardendale History: The Next 25 Years.
“Her mind was so sharp that she could recall the details of every facet of her early childhood,” Webb said. “I loved to hear her tell stories of how she grew up, and how life was back then.”
Rosilyn Wilson said her mother lived a full life and was actually somewhat adventurous. Martha Wilson had the opportunities to drive a race car, go whitewater rafting and even took to the skies in a refueling cargo plane.
She said her mom was actually a very shy person, despite her community involvement, but added, “She always spoke her mind. You knew where you stood with her.”
More importantly, she said her mother loved Gardendale and its residents. “She loved doing for people in the community,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “She always put others first before herself.”
The City of Gardendale is mourning the loss of a true local legend this week.
Martha Wilson, regarded by her peers as a pioneer in civic and business leadership, passed away Thursday at the age of 76.
Wilson was known first and foremost as the proprietor of Wilson’s Florist, which opened in 1963.
Martha WIlson’s daughter, Rosilyn Wilson, said the florist started on the family’s front porch in Mt. Olive before moving to Fultondale. She said the business had been in Gardendale for the last 30 years.
Rosilyn Wilson said despite the success of the floral business, her mother’s dream was to open a wedding chapel. She said Martha Wilson had the idea for the chapel after attending a wedding.
“The next day she started drawing up plans for the chapel,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “That was her dream ... She saw a need for that in the community.”
The chapel opened in 1993. Rosilyn Wilson said a wedding is held at the chapel just about every weekend during wedding season.
Gardendale business owner Bob Boffa said he had a great deal of respect for Martha Wilson and her approach to business, and for her dedication to the city’s “mom and pop” businesses. Wilson was also instrumental in forming the city’s chamber of commerce.
“She was a living legend,” Boffa said. “She was what the mom and pops are all about. She gave you personal service, which is a dying way of doing business.”
Boffa said he also respected Wilson because of her faith and kind-heartedness.
“She was the kind of person who was always approachable and a woman of God,” he said. “The family has lost a mom and we’ve lost a friend in Martha Wilson.”
Gardendale Mayor Kenny Clemons praised Wilson’s efforts in helping to beautify the city. Wilson was a member of several garden and flower clubs, the Jefferson County Beautification Board and was also a part of the city’s America in Bloom beautification efforts.
“She was an icon as far as beautification goes,” Clemons said. “She had a vision for Gardendale a long time ago, and she did everything she could to make it happen.”
Clemons also praised Wilson’s pride in the city and the encouragement she gave to local leaders.
“She was always very positive about everything she said about the city,” he said. “She’s someone who left the city in a lot better place than she found it.”
In addition to Wilson’s work with beautification clubs and the chamber of commerce, she was also an active Rotarian.
Fellow Rotarian Gary Bailey said one of Wilson’s biggest accomplishments for the club was as an organizer of the city’s first Magnolia Festival, now in its seventh year. Bailey said Wilson coordinated all the vendors for the inaugural festival.
Rotary Club President Aaron Box said Wilson’s passing leaves “tremendous shoes to fill.” He also called her a model Rotarian.
“I wish I could write what Mrs. Martha was on a piece of paper and pass out copies to every Rotarian and citizen in Gardendale,” Box said. “If we all tried to be a little more like Martha, Gardendale wouldn’t just be a great city, it would be the greatest city on earth.”
For the the past several years, Wilson wrote weekly columns titled “Remembering the Good Old Days,” which appeared in The North Jefferson News. Her topic of discussion focused on how residents lived back in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rosilyn Wilson said her mom enjoyed writing the articles and said customers at Wilson’s florist would sometimes tell her that Martha Wilson’s columns were the “only reason why they read the paper.”
Harvey Webb, former editor of The North Jefferson News, called Wilson one of his favorite sources and said she was a walking history book of Gardendale and Fultondale. Wilson actually helped write Gardendale’s history in “Gardendale History: The Next 25 Years.
“Her mind was so sharp that she could recall the details of every facet of her early childhood,” Webb said. “I loved to hear her tell stories of how she grew up, and how life was back then.”
Rosilyn Wilson said her mother lived a full life and was actually somewhat adventurous. Martha Wilson had the opportunities to drive a race car, go whitewater rafting and even took to the skies in a refueling cargo plane.
She said her mom was actually a very shy person, despite her community involvement, but added, “She always spoke her mind. You knew where you stood with her.”
More importantly, she said her mother loved Gardendale and its residents. “She loved doing for people in the community,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “She always put others first before herself.”
From The North Jefferson News, March 31, 2008:
The City of Gardendale is mourning the loss of a true local legend this week.
Martha Wilson, regarded by her peers as a pioneer in civic and business leadership, passed away Thursday at the age of 76.
Wilson was known first and foremost as the proprietor of Wilson’s Florist, which opened in 1963.
Martha WIlson’s daughter, Rosilyn Wilson, said the florist started on the family’s front porch in Mt. Olive before moving to Fultondale. She said the business had been in Gardendale for the last 30 years.
Rosilyn Wilson said despite the success of the floral business, her mother’s dream was to open a wedding chapel. She said Martha Wilson had the idea for the chapel after attending a wedding.
“The next day she started drawing up plans for the chapel,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “That was her dream ... She saw a need for that in the community.”
The chapel opened in 1993. Rosilyn Wilson said a wedding is held at the chapel just about every weekend during wedding season.
Gardendale business owner Bob Boffa said he had a great deal of respect for Martha Wilson and her approach to business, and for her dedication to the city’s “mom and pop” businesses. Wilson was also instrumental in forming the city’s chamber of commerce.
“She was a living legend,” Boffa said. “She was what the mom and pops are all about. She gave you personal service, which is a dying way of doing business.”
Boffa said he also respected Wilson because of her faith and kind-heartedness.
“She was the kind of person who was always approachable and a woman of God,” he said. “The family has lost a mom and we’ve lost a friend in Martha Wilson.”
Gardendale Mayor Kenny Clemons praised Wilson’s efforts in helping to beautify the city. Wilson was a member of several garden and flower clubs, the Jefferson County Beautification Board and was also a part of the city’s America in Bloom beautification efforts.
“She was an icon as far as beautification goes,” Clemons said. “She had a vision for Gardendale a long time ago, and she did everything she could to make it happen.”
Clemons also praised Wilson’s pride in the city and the encouragement she gave to local leaders.
“She was always very positive about everything she said about the city,” he said. “She’s someone who left the city in a lot better place than she found it.”
In addition to Wilson’s work with beautification clubs and the chamber of commerce, she was also an active Rotarian.
Fellow Rotarian Gary Bailey said one of Wilson’s biggest accomplishments for the club was as an organizer of the city’s first Magnolia Festival, now in its seventh year. Bailey said Wilson coordinated all the vendors for the inaugural festival.
Rotary Club President Aaron Box said Wilson’s passing leaves “tremendous shoes to fill.” He also called her a model Rotarian.
“I wish I could write what Mrs. Martha was on a piece of paper and pass out copies to every Rotarian and citizen in Gardendale,” Box said. “If we all tried to be a little more like Martha, Gardendale wouldn’t just be a great city, it would be the greatest city on earth.”
For the the past several years, Wilson wrote weekly columns titled “Remembering the Good Old Days,” which appeared in The North Jefferson News. Her topic of discussion focused on how residents lived back in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rosilyn Wilson said her mom enjoyed writing the articles and said customers at Wilson’s florist would sometimes tell her that Martha Wilson’s columns were the “only reason why they read the paper.”
Harvey Webb, former editor of The North Jefferson News, called Wilson one of his favorite sources and said she was a walking history book of Gardendale and Fultondale. Wilson actually helped write Gardendale’s history in “Gardendale History: The Next 25 Years.
“Her mind was so sharp that she could recall the details of every facet of her early childhood,” Webb said. “I loved to hear her tell stories of how she grew up, and how life was back then.”
Rosilyn Wilson said her mother lived a full life and was actually somewhat adventurous. Martha Wilson had the opportunities to drive a race car, go whitewater rafting and even took to the skies in a refueling cargo plane.
She said her mom was actually a very shy person, despite her community involvement, but added, “She always spoke her mind. You knew where you stood with her.”
More importantly, she said her mother loved Gardendale and its residents. “She loved doing for people in the community,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “She always put others first before herself.”
The City of Gardendale is mourning the loss of a true local legend this week.
Martha Wilson, regarded by her peers as a pioneer in civic and business leadership, passed away Thursday at the age of 76.
Wilson was known first and foremost as the proprietor of Wilson’s Florist, which opened in 1963.
Martha WIlson’s daughter, Rosilyn Wilson, said the florist started on the family’s front porch in Mt. Olive before moving to Fultondale. She said the business had been in Gardendale for the last 30 years.
Rosilyn Wilson said despite the success of the floral business, her mother’s dream was to open a wedding chapel. She said Martha Wilson had the idea for the chapel after attending a wedding.
“The next day she started drawing up plans for the chapel,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “That was her dream ... She saw a need for that in the community.”
The chapel opened in 1993. Rosilyn Wilson said a wedding is held at the chapel just about every weekend during wedding season.
Gardendale business owner Bob Boffa said he had a great deal of respect for Martha Wilson and her approach to business, and for her dedication to the city’s “mom and pop” businesses. Wilson was also instrumental in forming the city’s chamber of commerce.
“She was a living legend,” Boffa said. “She was what the mom and pops are all about. She gave you personal service, which is a dying way of doing business.”
Boffa said he also respected Wilson because of her faith and kind-heartedness.
“She was the kind of person who was always approachable and a woman of God,” he said. “The family has lost a mom and we’ve lost a friend in Martha Wilson.”
Gardendale Mayor Kenny Clemons praised Wilson’s efforts in helping to beautify the city. Wilson was a member of several garden and flower clubs, the Jefferson County Beautification Board and was also a part of the city’s America in Bloom beautification efforts.
“She was an icon as far as beautification goes,” Clemons said. “She had a vision for Gardendale a long time ago, and she did everything she could to make it happen.”
Clemons also praised Wilson’s pride in the city and the encouragement she gave to local leaders.
“She was always very positive about everything she said about the city,” he said. “She’s someone who left the city in a lot better place than she found it.”
In addition to Wilson’s work with beautification clubs and the chamber of commerce, she was also an active Rotarian.
Fellow Rotarian Gary Bailey said one of Wilson’s biggest accomplishments for the club was as an organizer of the city’s first Magnolia Festival, now in its seventh year. Bailey said Wilson coordinated all the vendors for the inaugural festival.
Rotary Club President Aaron Box said Wilson’s passing leaves “tremendous shoes to fill.” He also called her a model Rotarian.
“I wish I could write what Mrs. Martha was on a piece of paper and pass out copies to every Rotarian and citizen in Gardendale,” Box said. “If we all tried to be a little more like Martha, Gardendale wouldn’t just be a great city, it would be the greatest city on earth.”
For the the past several years, Wilson wrote weekly columns titled “Remembering the Good Old Days,” which appeared in The North Jefferson News. Her topic of discussion focused on how residents lived back in the 1940s and 1950s.
Rosilyn Wilson said her mom enjoyed writing the articles and said customers at Wilson’s florist would sometimes tell her that Martha Wilson’s columns were the “only reason why they read the paper.”
Harvey Webb, former editor of The North Jefferson News, called Wilson one of his favorite sources and said she was a walking history book of Gardendale and Fultondale. Wilson actually helped write Gardendale’s history in “Gardendale History: The Next 25 Years.
“Her mind was so sharp that she could recall the details of every facet of her early childhood,” Webb said. “I loved to hear her tell stories of how she grew up, and how life was back then.”
Rosilyn Wilson said her mother lived a full life and was actually somewhat adventurous. Martha Wilson had the opportunities to drive a race car, go whitewater rafting and even took to the skies in a refueling cargo plane.
She said her mom was actually a very shy person, despite her community involvement, but added, “She always spoke her mind. You knew where you stood with her.”
More importantly, she said her mother loved Gardendale and its residents. “She loved doing for people in the community,” Rosilyn Wilson said. “She always put others first before herself.”
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