James E. Wilson, Sr.

Mr. James Earl Wilson, Sr. departed this life on October 11, 2024 at home surrounded by his family. He was born on March 4, 1955, in Oakland, TN., to Cloteal Leathers and Calvin Seymour, Jr. He was preceded in death by his father Calvin Seymour, Jr., maternal grandmother Cassie (Big Mama) Wilson-Dickson, brothers; Vernon Leathers and Marvin Seymour, aunts; Mildred Seymour, Helen (Sister) Jasper, Rose Kendall, and both paternal grandparents.

He accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior at an early age and at one time attended St. Mary’s First Church. Mr. Wilson received his education from the Kansas City, Missouri School District and also received a Certificate of Completion in Auto Mechanics.

Having begun boxing at the tender age of eight, James Wilson spent many hours in the boxing arena. He entered organized competition through Parks and Recreation boxing program when he was 10 years old. When he was 17 years old, he won the 1972 Golden Gloves novice regional tournament at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri. The next year, he was the runner-up in Kansas City’s Golden Gloves open division. When the winner of his division was unable to compete in the national event set in Lowell, MA., he represented this region. He was up against boxers from 30 cities throughout the United States. In 1987, his career in boxing ended when he broke his thumb in a later Golden Gloves regional tournament. In this tournament, he received a silver trophy for being runner-up in his division. Earl retired from the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT), Public Works Division.

Mr. Wilson was united in Holy matrimony to Ella Nois Wilson on December 11, 1976. They were married for 48 years and in this union they had three children. He leaves to cherish his memory, his devoted wife of the home; one daughter, Stacey J. Wilson, two sons, James E. Wilson Jr., Issac A. Wilson (Jasmine), and two grandchildren Kyrie A. Wilson and Kindle Barnes all of Kansas City, MO, his mother Cloteal Leathers, and step-mother Louise Seymour, Memphis, TN, siblings; Carolyn Henry (Donald), Fresno, TX, Rickey Leathers, Debra Leathers, Gary Leathers, Gail Leathers-Crosby (Harvey), Latonia Leathers-Daniels (Bryant) all of Kansas City, MO, Vivian Seymour, Cordova, TN, Venita Seymour, Somerville, TN, Belinda Seymour, Memphis, TN, Steven (Shirley) Seymour, Memphis, TN and Caroline Cleaves, Cordova, TN, Aunts; Allean Eubanks and Betty Long, and Uncle; Jeff Wilson, of Kansas City, MO, Nancy Jenkins, Bobbie Berry, Evelyn Edmond, Findel (Uncle Sunny) Seymour all of Chicago, IL, Ernestine Mosby, Arlington, TN, Fletcher Seymour, Williston, TN, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and other relatives and friends.