“Miss Selma”, as she was affectionately called, was the second oldest of seventeen children born to Mark Johnson and Carrie Smith Johnson on March 21, 1910 in Tillery, NC.  After moving to Maryland as a teenager, while in her twenties and early thirties, she earned a cosmetology degree and later opened and operated her own beauty salon and traveled extensively.  She later married the late William M. Wilson and had two sons, Maurice and Leon.  Later in life, she worked as the Public Health Supervisor for the Baltimore City Department of Public Health, and retired after 18 years of service.  The way she lived her life was a testimony in itself; Mrs. Llewella Kelly of Carlolina Rest Home stated, “Since meeting Miss Selma, my life will be changed forever; she has been such an inspiration to all at Carolina Rest Home, staff and residents alike.”  “Miss Selma” is preceded in death by her two sons, Leon Wilson and Rev. Dr. Maurice Wilson.

Surviving are her daughter-in-law, Rebecca Flood Wilson, and siblings, Magnolia Biggs, Carrietta Arrington, Pauline Vick, Mabel White, and Ernest Johnson and a sister-in-law, Mary Johnson.  Also surviving are several grand, great-grand, step-grand, and step great-grandchildren.

Services to celebrate Selma’s life will be held, Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 2:00pm in the chapel at Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service.  Ellis Vaughn and Rev. Charles Dorsey will officiate.  The family will receive friends immediately following the service.

Hockaday Funeral & Cremation Service is handling arrangements and online condolences may be sent to www.hockadayfs.com