Edna Marie Taylor Wilkerson was born on December 31, 1933, in Palestine, Texas, to Mark and Annie Mae Taylor. Edna was the third of nine siblings and the oldest girl. At an early age, Edna joined Jerusalem Baptist Church in Palestine, where she accepted Christ and was baptized. She attended Foster Elementary School and Lincoln High School, where she graduated in 1952. She was a member of the 4H Club, where she was named an Outstanding Club Member.
Following High School graduation, she attended Prairie View A&M University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1957 with a major in Home Economics and a minor in Education.
After finishing college, Edna moved to Dallas, where she began working as a substitute teacher in the Dallas Independent Schools District. It was there that she met her husband, Floyd F. Wilkerson.
On June 14, 1958, Edna married the late Floyd F. Wilkerson, who was the principal of Charles Rice Elementary School in Dallas. Edna and Floyd built a wonderful life together for 38 years until the Lord called Floyd home on November 18, 1996.
Edna joined Floyd at the New Hope Baptist Church in 1962, where they served as deacon and deaconess under Rev. H. Rhett James, Rev. Victor Hall, Rev. Derrick Harkins, and Rev. Ronald Jones, Sr.
Edna and Floyd instilled core spiritual values like love and compassion in their children by taking them to church and stressing the importance of prioritizing time with God.
Edna was a dedicated member of the New Hope Baptist Church Chancel Choir as well as a member of the courtesy committee until her health failed.
In 1966, Edna was hired by the Wilmer Hutchins Independent School District as a kindergarten teacher at Alta Mesa Elementary School and Mamie White Elementary School. Edna was also assigned to Hutchins Elementary and Bishop Heights Elementary School between 1971 and 1993, where she served as the head teacher. Edna made sure that the kindergarten students were focused on literacy and prepared to interact with others in social settings.
While teaching in the Wilmer Hutchins Independent School District, Edna completed her Masters of Education in Early Childhood Education in 1976 from Texas Woman’s University in Denton, Texas.
Edna left the Wilmer Hutchins Independent School District and was hired as a Kindergarten Teacher at R. L Thornton Elementary School under Dr. Maya Lagbara, where she retired in 2004. During her retirement years, she enjoyed her grandchildren, shopping, cooking, and traveling to California.
God called Edna home on April 16, 2026. She was preceded in death by her parents, Mark and Annie Mae Taylor, her husband Floyd F. Wilkerson, her brothers Mark Taylor, Cleveland Taylor, Raymond Taylor, Solomon Taylor, and a host of aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Edna was blessed to be called Mother by two children, Dr. Daryl F. Wilkerson(Effie) and Dr. Dalerie A. Wilkerson. She was affectionally called “Mimi” by her four grandchildren, DaRyan F. Wilkerson, Darian ”Dink” Wilkerson, Alexandria D. Wilkerson-Owens(Neiman), and Macie Marie Wilkerson. Edna was also blessed with three great-grandchildren: Jordan Sims, Alana Sims, and Brendan Owens.
She is also survived by her sisters Annie Faye Morris, Margrett N. Patton(Jerry), Doris D. Taylor, and Sharron Walker(Morris), and a host of cousins, nieces, and nephews, and two great uncles.
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