Edna Martin Wilson Clemence, 70, died November 4 at St. Mary’s Hospice House. Born in 1939 in Dunn, N.C., her mother Pauline Stewart Martin Cooper raised her in Newport News, Va. At age 15, she successfully auditioned for the New York City Rockefeller Rockettes. Her mother would not let her quit school. After graduating from Newport News High School, she moved to New York, studied modeling and cosmetology. She successfully auditioned again but never danced with them.
She married Dennis F. Wilson in 1958, and after 25 years in the U.S. Army, they retired in Conyers. In 1987 they moved to Lake Oconee where Mrs. Clemence made a multitude of lifelong friends. She participated in many clubs and activities including becoming a founding member of the Ladies Golf Association at Port Armor. She was a member of multiple bridge clubs and loved to play slot machines. She lost her husband Dennis to cancer in 1992 and her mother in 2008. In 2000, Edna married Dr. William James "BJ" Clemence of Athens, a retired UGA professor. They shared a rich life of golf and social activities.
She is survived by her husband; daughter Bonnie Marie Wilson, Atlanta; son Dennis F. Wilson III and his wife DeeDee of Portland, Ore.; and son Frank Wilson of Atlanta; grandchildren Heather Wilson, Dalton and Shelby Wilson; brother Jay Martin of Kingman, Ariz.; sister Lillian Drenz of Springfield, Va; and many nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Service will be held Saturday, Nov. 7, at 2 p.m. at First United Methodist Church in Greensboro with The Rev. Dr. Jan Blissit officiating. The family will receive friends after the service at the Historic Hall-Thomas House, 109 W. Broad Street, Greensboro, across from the church sanctuary. The family requests that in lieu of flowers contributions be made to St. Mary’s Hospice House, 1660 Jennings Mill Road, Bogart, Ga. 30622. Visit www.mccommonsfuneralhome.com to sign the online guest register.
To further celebrate the life of Edna, a Memorial "Casino Night" fundraising benefit for St. Mary’s Hospice House will be planned in the near future.
