Thomas Clifford Wilson, 94, of Erie, PA passed away on Friday, December 13, 2019 at the Erie VA Medical Center. He was born June 13, 1925 to the late Charles & Rosie B. (Bruce) Wilson in Fairfield, Alabama.

Thomas confessed Christ at an early age at the First Baptist Church in Fairfield where he was baptized.

After high school graduation in 1943, Thomas was drafted into the United States Navy where he served during World War II for 3 ½ years.  After completion of his tour of duty, he was honorably discharged in 1946.  A few years later, in 1949, Thomas moved to Erie, PA to live with his sister and remained a resident for 70 years. Thomas landed a job at General Electric where he worked as a Jitney Supervisor; he retired with 40 years of service. After retirement he worked for the Gertrude Barber Center as a bus driver.

Thomas was united with Shiloh Baptist Church under the pastorate of the late Rev. Delta A. Terry where he was a dedicated member. This was exhibited by his courageous act of crossing a picket line to retrieve bricks for the church's construction project. He, along with other courageous men of Shiloh, was fired up on by disgruntled workers as they crossed the line to purchase bricks for the church. He was also a former Trustee Board member and Cub Scout Leader.   In addition to the church he served as Treasurer of the NAACP and the Bayfront Nato, Martin Luther King Center Board of Directors.  Thomas was a faithful member of Bay City Lodge#68 Prince Hall Affiliate where he was Past Master of Bay City Lodge 33 ^o Mason, Past Potentate, and also served as a Junior Deacon in The Grand Lodge.  He served this organization for 30 years.

Besides his parents, he is preceded in death by a son, Claude E. Hinton; his sister, Arnell Coleman; and his brothers, Charles Wilson and (COL) Theodore Wilson, Judge Advocate Corp.

He leaves to cherish his memory, his beloved wife, Cora J. Wilson; his sons, Lester Williams (Mary), Birmingham, AL and Floyd Wilson, Pittsburgh, PA; his daughters, Doris Johnson, Erie, PA, Tracie Bonnick (Ricardo), Leesburg, FL, Daphne Johnson, Erie, PA, and Leisha Ross (Pelinton), Bowie, MD; his sister-in-law, Dr. Premala Brewster Wilson, Silver Spring MD; a host of grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and special friend Namon McWilliams.

Friends may visit with the family on Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Shiloh Baptist Church, 901 East 5 ^th St. from 10:00 am to 12:00pm.  A Masonic Service will take place at 11:00 am.  The funeral service will begin at 12:00 pm with Dr. Sammie L. Glass Th.D. of Greater Tried Stone Baptist Church, Washington, DC eulogizing.  Interment will be at Erie County Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Professional services are entrusted to Pitts Funeral Home 2926 Pine Avenue, Erie, PA 16504.