Gerald Wilson was born in Winston-Salem, North Carolina on April 22,1936 to Kitty Lee Thomas Wilson and Thomas Woodrow Wilson. He died on September 12, 2024.
After graduating from Reynolds High School in Winston-Salem, he earned his undergraduate degree from Davidson College. In 1958 Gerald came to his forever permanent home, Durham, to attend Duke Divinity School and then Duke Graduate School completing two master’s degrees. His Ph.D. in History was from UNC-Chapel Hill.
Gerald served Duke University for over 50 years as an Academic Dean, Pre-Law Advisor, Senior Associate Dean of Trinity College of Arts and Sciences and Associate University Marshall. In addition, he loved teaching his American Dreams/American Realities course, named a “must take class,” and his seminar on Leadership in American History.
While pursuing his career at Duke, Gerald, as an ordained Presbyterian minister, served three churches in Vance County for 24 years.
For his faithful service Duke first awarded him the Presidential Award for Executive Leadership; in 2013 the University Medal, the highest Duke award for service; in 2019 the Brodhead Service Award. Recently, OLLI at Duke presented Ginger and Gerald the Bill Wright Award for service.
The National Pre-Law Association named its annual service award the Dean Gerald Lee Wilson award. Gerald spent many happy hours with his Pre-Law students and the Pre-Law organizations.
Gerald is survived by his loving wife, Virginia “Ginger” of 60 years, his daughter Holly Schrader (Scott) of Naperville, Illinois, and two grandchildren Clayton Douglas Schrader and Sydney Arden Schrader, a brother John Christian Wilson (Marianne) of Chapel Hill, a sister Nancy Miller of Wilmington and many nieces and nephews. Gerald was predeceased by his parents and brother Thomas Woodrow Wilson, Jr.
Gerald loved his family, friends, students, colleagues and pets.
No Memorial Service is planned.
Gifts to his memory can be made to the Virginia S. and Gerald Lee Wilson Scholarship Fund. Checks can be made payable to Duke University with the memo line reading: Virginia S. and Gerald Lee Wilson Scholarship Fund and mailed to Duke University, Alumni and Development Records, Box 90581, Durham, NC 27708-0581.