Obit for Meri Wilson Edgemon
Gary Flinn
Meri Wilson Edgemon
AMERICUS - Mrs. Meri Wilson Edgemon, 53, of 129 Taylor St., died on Saturday
evening, Dec. 28, 2002, as a result of injuries sustained in an automobile
accident south of Americus. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m.
today, Dec. 31, at Calvary Episcopal Church with Father Reginald Gunn
officiating. Interment will follow in Oak Grove Cemetery.
Mrs. Edgemon was born on June 15, 1949, in Nagoya, Japan, a daughter of Col.
Keith Streeter Wilson, USAF, of Americus and the late Eunice Lillian
Ferguson Wilson. She was a homemaker and a member of Calvary Episcopal
Church. At the time of her death, Meri was president of the Americus and
Sumter County Arts Council and the Southwest Civic Chorus. She was deeply
involved with and supportive of the Rylander Theatre as an active member of
the Friends of the Rylander. She recently arranged and directed the music
for the "Cotton Patch Gospel," which received state and national
recognition. A popular local vocalist, she was a music theorist and
recording artist, and had earned both a silver record and a platinum record
for "Telephone Man," one of the many songs she composed.
She attended Marietta High School and Indiana University of Music, and
received a bachelor's of science degree in music education and a master's
degree in music theory from Georgia State University. She had a natural gift
for drama and music, and excelled in playing the cello, piano, flute and
guitar. While on a singing tour at Indiana University, Meri was in an
automobile accident resulting in an extended recuperation in a body cast.
During her period of confinement, she composed a number of songs which she
subsequently used while singing at Underground Atlanta. The owner of Daddy's
Money, a restaurant chain in Dallas, Texas, heard her sing and asked her to
move to Dallas to perform.
On her album, "First Take," was the song, "Angel in Me" which she wrote
about her daughter. Meri sang all the harmony parts and accompanied herself
on the flute.
She served as choral director at the Avondale DeKalb School of Performing
Arts from which several of her students were launched to careers on
Broadway. She loved people, music and animals. Her creativity was matched
with rare talent and energy to coordinate, energize, raise funding, lead and
"make things happen." She was kind, had an unusual number of loyal friends,
and sincerely loved her husband John, her daughter Ansley and granddaughter
Jada, other family, friends, community, dogs, birds and music.
The family received friends from 7 until 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 30 at Hancock
Funeral Home. At other times, friends may call at the family residence, 129
Taylor St.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Americus and Sumter County Arts
Council, P.O. Box 6618, Americus GA 31709.
Survivors, in addition to her father, include her step-mother, Carol Wilson
of Americus; her husband, John S. Edgemon of Americus; a daughter, Ansley
Hart Palmer of Kansas City, Mo.; a sister and brother-in-law, Virginia
Wilson Powell and Richard S. Powell of Americus; a brother, David K. Wilson
of Savannah; two step-sons, John V. Edgemon and James Edgemon, both of
Americus; a granddaughter, Jada Hart of Kansas City, Mo.; and several nieces
and nephews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Barbara A. Arshinkoff.
Hancock Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.