MEMORIAL CEMETERY
ANDERSON COUNTY, TEXAS

Born:  15 January 1915 - Palestine, Anderson, Texas Died:  5 March 2004 - Palestine Regional Hospital - Palestine, Anderson, Texas Father:  Minum (Minner) Robinson Mother:  Joanna Robinson Spouse:  Etta Mae Rogers - 1 May 1936 Spouse: Annie Lee Nixon - 8 February 1969 SGT US Army World War II

PRECIOUS MEMORIES OF JAMES 'MINNER' WILSON James was born January 18, 1915, in Palestine, Texas to the parentage of Minus ((Minner) & Joanna Robinson Wilson.  He was the first of five children. He attended and received his education in the Palestine School District. James accepted Christ into his life as a child, and united with South Union Baptist Church. He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 - 1945, and was honorably Discharged. He worked at Questover & Pryor's Men's Store for over 50 years. James was married in Holy Matrimony to Etta Mae Rogers on May 1, 1936, after her death, he later married Annie Lee Nixon on February 8, 1969. On March 5, 2004, in Palestine, Texas, James went to be with his Heavenly Father.  He is preceded in death by his parents:  Minus & Joanna Wilson 2 Wife's:  Etta Mae Wilson, Annie Lee Wilson.  1 Brother:  William Henry Wilson, Sr. 3 Sisters:  Helen Marie Robinson, Nora Lee Wilson & Mattie Wilson. 1 Nephew:  Maurice eWilson James leave to cherish his wonderful memories: 5 Nephews:  William (Kate) Wilson, Jr., Palestine, TX Leon (Valerie) Wilson, St. Louis, MO. James E. (Lillie) Robinson, Houston,TX. Morris (Rita) Wilson, Waco, TX. Harold (Joyce) Warner, Jr., Houston, TX. 1 niece Bettye W. Brown, Dallas, TX. A host of great nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends will miss him dearly.

'MINNER' CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY 71-YEAR-OLD IN 50TH YEAR OF SERVICE Few people ever celebrate their 50th anniversary at the same firm. But on July 18, James (Minner) Wilson, 71, marked the golden anniversary of the first time he walked through the doors at Questover's where East Texas National Bank now sits.  From that date in 1936 until 1955, Wilson sold clothing and other dry goods, cleaned, and turned on lights for Questover customers. When the old Questover store burned down, employee Emmet Pryor opened Pryor's Men's Store a block away at 217 W. Main St. And Wilson went there to work. A native of Palestine, Wilson said the nickname 'Minner' was handed down to him through his father.  "My dad worked for the railroad and he just loved to fish, but he never could catch anything.  His friends would give him their fish and they called my day 'Minner'.  I guess the name just kind of passed down to me." he said. Wilson said the only time he has lived outside Anderson County was the three years he served in the U.S. Army during World War II. Even though he saw duty in England, France, Belgium and Germany, he already knew where he wanted the rest of his life - Palestine. "When they discharged me, I didn't bring nothing' home.  I went into a clothing store in San Antonio and bought some clothes.  I left my army bag and everything in that store," he said. When he got home, the railroad men who owned Questover immediately gave him his job back.  Working for them and Pryor has been his life's calling ever since. Pryor's have been more than just a place to work for him.  Emmet Pryor,  since deceased, turned over the business to his son Bob. "The Pryor family has treated me like one of their own.  I've been working here ever since he (Bob) has been in the world," Wilson said. Pryor said that when he was a child, Wilson would pick him up and put him on his shoulders to watch parades. "James took care of me, " he said, smiling at Wilson. Wilson said Pryor is both a friend and boss to him. Pryor grinned as he recalled how Wilson used to grow hot peppers on the store room and turnip greens in the planter outside the store. Wilson has never driven a vehicle or obtained a drivers license.  "I have no need for a car," said Wilson. Things have changed in the Palestine store, he said.  Wilson remember when the store had no air condition.  Relief came from ceiling fans and keeping the doors open.  Chuckling, Wilson also said he was in charge of the lights at the old Questover store. "We didn't have these kind of lights back then," he said, pointing at the long fluorescent tube lights. "We didn't have the store all lite up.  The only light was a bulb hanging by a string over the cash register. "He said if a customer wanted to look at shoes in the shoe department, he would pull the string to light the bulb in that particular department. If the customer went to another section, he pulled the light string in that department and turned around and shut the light behind them off. Although he has slowed down through the years and now only works half a day, Wilson said he has no plans to retire. When people are nice, you have to show them your appreciation.  I've been doing this all my life, I pick up the mail every morning, go to the bank, clean up and pay the bills. "I'm already drawing my benefits but I'll come down here as long as I can," he said. "if you sit at home - you get stiff."

The pictures and images used on the Memorial Cemetery pages were
furnished by the Anderson County Historical Commission and the pages
were compiled by Beverly Bailey Odom and Scott Fitzgerald.

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Copyright 2005 -
East Texas Genealogical Society and the Individual Contributors