Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

November 16, 2018

Roger Williams “Bud” Wilkerson, 83, died Friday, November 16, 2018 at Southminster Retirement Community.  He was born February 15, 1935 in Roxboro, NC,  son of the late Roger Williams Wilkerson Jr and India Slayton Wilkerson.  In 1954 he met the love of his life, Nancy Hayes in Winnsboro, SC.

Bud graduated from Clemson College in 1958 with Bachelor of Architecture and was a member of the Senior Platoon and the Central Dance Association. Following his service in the US Army, Bud began and architectural career where he focused on healthcare planning and design working with many hospitals throughout the Carolinas.  He designed the first all private room hospital in the Southeast – Springs Memorial Hospital.  He also worked with Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center, Cone Health, Cleveland Regional Medical Center and many others.

Bud is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Nancy Hayes Wilkerson; daughters Beth Wilkerson Sytz, her husband, Bob, Sheila Wilkerson Chatto, her husband Earl;  son, Roger W. Wilkerson IV and his wife, Lynne; grandchildren, Robert and Harrison Sytz, Melissa and Chris Chatto and Hayes, Catherine, Tice and Margaret Wilkerson; and his loving niece, Anne Galletly Lasley and her son, Will.

In addition to his parents, Bud was preceded in death by his sister, Janis Wilkerson Galletly and her husband, Jim and their son, Bob Galletly.

Bud was an active member of Myers Park United Methodist Church and the Wesley Sunday School Class. He was a member of Charlotte Country Club and a former member of The City Club.  Bud was a member of the NC Governor’s Advisory Commission on Military Affairs and he served on the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Committee.

Bud particularly enjoyed his family’s vacations at the beach including Hilton Head Island and Pawley’s Island. He joyfully taught his children and grandchildren how to ride the waves and catch and cook blue crabs. Bud had a passion for cars and travel and he and Nancy created many memories traveling together over the years.

A memorial service to celebrate Bud’s life will be held at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, November 21, 2018 at Myers Park United Methodist Church.  The family will receive friends at a reception following the service in Jubilee Hall at the church.

Memorials may be sent to the Memory Center Charlotte, 300 Billingsley Road, Suite 108, Charlotte, NC, 28211 or Myers Park United Methodist Church Jubilee Plus Fund, 1501 Queens Road, Charlotte, NC 28207 or the Southminster Community Fund, 8919 Park Road, Charlotte, NC 28210.

Our hearts are full of love and gratitude for the staff at Southminster and especially the Southminster Healthcare staff who enriched the final years of Bud’s life and the loving care they gave him on a daily basis and at the end.

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.