Pleasant William Wesley

Pleasant Wesley

IN MEMORY OF P. W. WESLEY
Funeral services for Mr. P. W. Wesley, of Wrightsville, Georgia, were held at the graveside at the Carter Cemetery, on Tuesday, May 5, 2020 at 1 PM.

LIFE REFLECTIONS OF P. W. WESLEY

Pleasant William (P. W.) Wesley, also known as "Pete", "Snap" and "Pistol" was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend, born on February 12, 1927, in Johnson County to the late Reverend Walter Wesley and Mary Bell Kemp Wesley. He was the third child of eight born to this union. He was also named after his grandfather, the late Reverend Pleasant William Wesley.

P. W. joined Saint James CME Church in Lovett, Georgia, at an early age and remained an active member until his death. During his early years, he helped to transport parishioners to and from church; this is how he met his wife, Hazel. He used his voice to give God praises while singing in the choir. P. W. organized and planned the first Children’s Day program at Saint James CME Church, which continued under his leadership for 12 years. He was the President of the Men's Council, Chairman of Deacon's Board and Superintendent of Sunday School for Saint James CME and for Jackson Chapel Church and served both by organizing and counseling for many years. He was an active member of the Steward Board at Saint James CME and President of the Building Union between Saint James and Mount Pullen churches.

P. W. was the minority county advisor for the USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Committee. He was an elite member of the Johnson County Road Commission from which he retired twice for a total of 20 years of service. P. W. served on the board of the Rural Electrification Administration (REA) “Agriculture - environmental and Consumer Protection” committee, Member of Future Farmers of America, as well as an original member of NAACP in the mid 1960s of Wrightsville, Georgia. In 2016 P. W. was awarded Conservationist (Soil & Water) of the Year for Central Georgia.

P. W. was an entrepreneur owning several businesses in spite of having only made it to second grade where he quit after attending 3 days of school because of bullying. He convinced his Mom to let him stay home to help his father, “Papa”, on the farm. At age 16, his first job was to transport teachers to and from Fort Valley State College to further their education. At age 21, he went north for a brief period, but quickly realized things were just as hard there as it was in the south. So he worked odd jobs - raking leaves and tarring driveways until he got enough money to return home. After returning from New Jersey, P.W. share-cropped for his father, Walter Wesley, and for Jim Miller and Charlie Hightower. After doing this for a while, he realized he could make more money working for himself. He then purchased 50 acres from Skinner Hicks, and rented land from MacAfee to expand his farming. Another farmer decided to sell his 400 acres on Snell Bridge Road, and when his father, “Papa”, heard P. W. was considering the purchase, “Papa” offered him an additional 200 acres. P. W.’s main crops were cotton, corn and peas. In conjunction with cropping, P. W. also loved raising and selling farm animals - mostly pigs and cows.

In addition to farming and cattling, P. W.’s gift and passion was to fix things. He worked as an auto mechanic for many, many years. He was considered the best auto mechanic in the Wrightsville area. He worked as a mechanic for Smith & Flanders Auto Parts from 1960 to 1980. He went on to work as the Mechanic for Johnson County Road Department & Transportation until he retired in 2010.

Even though he was a successful farmer and mechanic, his real vision was to become a Businessman. As a result of this desire, P. W. started “Wesley Trucking Company” and “Wesley’s Gas Station” (1979-1988).

At the ages of 16, P. W. met Hazel in 1948 and they united in holy matrimony two years later. Their honeymoon was a ride up Highway 57 to Balls Ferry Bridge and back home. During that 71 year union, they were blessed with eleven children and one godson. P. W. is survived by, and will be forever missed and loved by, his wife, Hazel Babbs Wesley; his children: Vicki Wesley Davis (Derrick) of Conyers Georgia; Deborah Wesley Faulcon (Allen) of Piscataway New Jersey; Marjorie Wesley Forney (Quentin) of St. Johns, Florida; Sheryl Stanley (Anthony) of Montrose, Georgia; Geneva Walker of Wrightsville, Georgia; Cecil Wesley of Marietta, Georgia; Frank Wesley (Edna) of Wrightsville, Georgia; Eva Wesley Evans (Robert) of Conyers, Georgia; John Wesley (Clairesa) of Norcross, Georgia; Lamar Wesley (Ruby) of Wrightsville, Georgia; Ernest Gean Billups of Bridgeport, Connecticut; Walter Lee Gregory (godson), twenty-four grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and two great great-grandchildren.

P. W. also leaves to cherish his memories three brothers: Willie Wesley of Louisville, Kentucky; Douglas Wesley (Janell) of San Diego, California, and Walter Wesley (Sandra) of Martinsville, Virginia, and a host of nephews, nieces and other relatives and friends.

P. W.’s life was a journey and several people were there along the way. However, there is one that stood out and embraced his journey. One who provided nutritious meals packed with care, leg and foot massages, pep talks, searched tirelessly for the best medical equipment available, arranged and coordinated some appointments, maintained accurate and comprehensive information, provided constant care and emotional support to and for both parents, all while simultaneously caring for her own family. We will always remember and be forever grateful to Edna Guillermo, adopted daughter/sister, adopted mother and caregiver, for the love and support you provided for our Dad. Thanks for being that “extra special “someone!

Services by Dudley Funeral Home of Dublin