T.J. Wilkerson

T.J. Wilkerson, Sr., 91, of Victoria, passed away on April 28, 2021.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Stephen Hudnall. Burial will follow at King Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 4, 2021, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Deweyville, Texas, on August 23, 1929, he was the son of Max Wilkerson, Sr. and Nettie Vandyke. T.J. worked for American Bridge and went on to work for many years as a boilermaker for the Local 587. He enjoyed spending his time outdoors whether it was taking a walk or going fishing and hunting. T.J. was also known as “Paw” to his grandchildren or the “little man that walks” in the little community of Deweyville. He was a kind and gentle man who adored his family most of all. T.J. was a loving husband, father, grandfather, and friend and will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved him.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth Wilkerson; parents, Max Wilkerson and Murl and Nettie Vandyke; sons, Thomas Wilkerson, Jr. and David Wilkerson; grandsons, Adam Lee Dorsey and Alvin Dorsey, Jr.; siblings, Max Wilkerson, Cecil Wilkerson, Billie Caraway, Juanita Caraway and Mary Lou Cook; and son-in-law, Alvin Dorsey.

He is survived by his loving wife, Bobbie Ruth Wilkerson; children, Brenda Dorsey of Huntington, Marcy Newman and husband Billy of Inez, Michelle Spence and husband Ronnie of Victoria, and John Sullivan and wife Lisa of Victoria; grandchildren, Jeff Wilkerson, Sarah Almand, Rachel Doucet, Davina Fairies, Amanda Dorsey, Karen Dorsey, Derek Sullivan, Natalie Teinart, Matthew Galvan, Mark Galvan, Jeffrey Purkop and Eric Harvey; 23 great-grandchildren; and 3 great-great-grandchildren; along with sisters, Maxine Moore and Jeanette Stafford.

Serving as pallbearers will be Neil Wilkerson, Sarah Almand, Cecil Smith, Johny Smith, Cody Smith, Freddie Doucet, and Michael Fairies. Honorary pallbearers are Jeff Wilkerson III, Joe Lynn Caraway, Chad Wilkerson, Ronnie Spence, John Sullivan, Billy Newman, and Joe Lynn Caraway, Jr.