History of the Restoration Movement


Jess Menton Wilcoxson

1918 - 2002

The Life and Work of Jess Wilcoxson

"Jess Menton Wilcoxson was born October 13, 1918 in Florence, Alabama. Throughout his childhood, he lived in St. Joe, Tennessee, Killen, Alabama for about three years, and Greenhill, Alabama for about four years. He attended school at Greenhill, Alabama where sixth and seventh grades were combined as also in Lexington, Alabama. He completed High School at Lauderdale County High School in Rogersville, Alabama. He graduated in 1949 from Freed-Hardeman College with a degree in Bible."

Mr. Wilcoxson began his first job in 1935, working for the W. P. A. building a grammar school in Killen, Alabama. He was paid $9.54 a week for 50 hours of work. In 1936 he went to work for the Western Auto Supply Company. Beginning as a stock boy, he rapidly rose in the company to at one time managing three stores. At one point he worked for them in one of their warehouses training in buying. All together he worked for the national department store chain for eleven years.

From 1938 to 1940 Jess served in the Army National Guard. During World War II, he served in the European Theater of Operations from 1943-1945.

Mr. Wilcoxson was married to Jessie Hagan Young on October 30, 1938. Madolyn Jane Wilcoxson Maness was added to the family on January 5, 1947. Both Frances and Jane were born in Florence, Alabama. The family moved to Henderson. Tennessee in 1956 to preach for the Church of Christ. In Henderson, Mr. Wilcoxson served on the county court and as the secretary and director of the Chester County Lions Club. In 1958 he appeared as a lecturer on the annual Freed-Hardeman Lectureship. In 1959 he became Educational Director for the Freed-Hardeman Youth Camp. He and Hagan taught Bible in the camp for many years. He also began working for Freed-Hardeman College in 1961, as a business manager. He was later appointed vice-president for Business Affairs in 1976 and then in 1990, he was appointed as special assistant to the President."

Jess was baptized by H.A. Dixon in Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 1946. He began preaching in Alabama in 1948 at the Pine Street church of Christ. He preached for six years in Georgia, about four years in Henderson, Tennessee, and at Texarkana, Texas from 1960-1961. For many years he conducted four to six gospel meetings each year, and for about ten years he participated in radio and television evangelism in both Macon, Georgia and in Texarkana, Texas.

The last years of Jess Wilcoxson’s life were spent in his hometown of Florence, Alabama. He passed from this life the 4th of January 2002. Burial followed in the Henderson, Tennessee Cemetery.
-Scott Harp, 11.2019

Source: Quotes from Chester County History and Families, p.147., and other unpublished documents.

Photos


1977 Treasure Chest

Location Of The Grave Of Jess Menton Wilcoxson

Jess Menton Wilcoxson is buried in the City Cemetery at Henderson, Tennessee. From I-40 in West Tennessee, take the Hwy 45 exit south. Go through the city of Jackson, and continue south about 15 miles to Henderson. You will be on the bypass in Henderson. Go to you come to Hwy. 100. Turn left and go to the next stop. Turn left on North Church St.. Go about 100 yards and turn into the cemetery on the right. The cemetery will fork close to the entrance. Take the right fork and head to the back of the cemetery. Half way down the hill you will see a utility building on your right. Stop the car and go to the right of the building out, up the hill toward the southern edge of the cemetery. The plot is located located next to the Gardner plot.

GPS Coordinates
35°26'18.3"N 88°38'40.4"W
35.438414, -88.644548

Rear Of Henderson City Cemetery From SE Cnr.
The Wilcoxson graves are to the left of this photo on top of the hill.


Grave just behind E. Claude Gardner


Jess M Wilcoxson October 13, 1918- January 4, 2002

Jess M Wilcoxson
US Army
World War II
October 13 1918
January 4, 2002

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