Reevel Frances “Ma” Crysup Wilson

Reevel Frances “Ma” Crysup Wilson, a long-time resident of Jacksonville, Texas, went home to be with the Lord on January 7, 2007, at the age of 102 years.

Ma was born in Barham, Louisiana July 1, 1904 to William Sidney and Lenora Dear Crysup, Her family consisted of four children, an older brother Don and sister Berneece and a younger brother, J.W. Her parents and siblings are all deceased.

Ma is survived by her daughter, Peggy W. Davis of Tyler and her daughter-in-law, Joanne Wilson of Dallas; eight grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren; and her nephew, Jimmie Crysup of New Orleans, Louisiana. Many relatives and friends mourning her loss are legion.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 43 years, Claude “Pa” Wilson and their son, Claude D. “Danny” Wilson of Dallas, and her son-in-law Jimmie I. Davis, also of Dallas.

Reevel and her little brother J.W. did some of their growing up in sawmill camps in East Texas while their daddy worked for a lumber company. During the First World War, Reevel attended high school in Houston. Her family then moved to Jacksonville. She met her future husband here when Claude had a flat on a Model T in front of her family’s house and he asked to use the phone. Claude and Reevel were married in 1924 and lived and worked in Mixon and Bullard until they settled permanently in Jacksonville in 1941. For a time Ma worked as a clerk for the Jacksonville Cotton Compress. Ma then went to work for Gragard, Spraggins and Swofford Funeral Home. She worked with the company for 28 years, as it changed to Thompson-Elliott and finally Thompson Funeral Home. Here she handled the company’s insurance office for her good friend of many years, Chuck Thompson.

Ma’s house was always a happy place. There was always plenty of home cooking (especially pies) and good company. She and Pa kept horses for the grandkids and were founding members of the Jacksonville Riders Club. In the early years of the Tops in Texas Rodeo, Ma helped look after such stars as Michael Landon, Ken Curtis and Jerry Lee Lewis. Ma loved good times, but when she played dominoes, she played to win. After Pa’s death, Ma drove on like a good Christian, enjoying life, her family and friends. She traveled widely in America and Europe, including a visit to the divided city of West Berlin, Germany. From the 1970s into the 21st century she was very active in the Mary-Martha Sunday School class at Central Baptist, the Daughters of the Nile, Order of the Eastern Star, the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Jacksonville Garden Club. She leaves a legacy of love that will survive through her descendents long after her century on this earth.

Visitation will be from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 9 at Thompson Funeral Home in Jacksonville. The funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m., Wednesday, Jan. 10, also at the Thompson facility. Interment will follow at Jacksonville City Cemetery. Rev. Bruce Webb of Central Baptist Church, Jacksonville, will conduct the service.

Pallbearers are Steve Campbell, George Stedding, Phillip Kelley, Bill Pratt, Mike Crysup, Steve Crysup; honorary pallbearers are Chuck Thompson, Roland Offord, Darren Crysup, Jackson Chandler and Jackie Scurlock.

 

Information from the Jacksonville Daily Progress.