Thomas (T.J.) J Wilkins

Thomas (T.J.) Wilkins, 94, of Brooksville, MS passed away peacefully at his residence on Monday, February 11, 2019. His funeral service will be held from graveside at Brooksville Cemetery on Thursday, February 14, 2019 at 11:00 A.M.

There will be no visitation. Memorials may be made to the Donor’s favorite charity. Cockrell Funeral Home of Macon is in charge of the funeral arrangements.

Thomas Jefferson (T.J.) Wilkins was born on March 11, 1924 to the late Joseph Tyson and Willie Hopkins Wilkins in Brooksville, MS, where he lived his entire life. He was a graduate of the Brooksville High School and of Mississippi State University with the Class of 1942. He was a member of the Greatest Generation, having served with the Army Air Corps (now known as the United States Air Force) during World War II. After his military service, T.J. returned to Brooksville where he was involved in dairy farming and also in owning and operating businesses. Among his business ventures were the 5 Points Café restaurant and a retail mercantile business known as Wilkins Store.  T.J.  was a member of Brooksville United Methodist Church and was also a Shriner. He enjoyed watching football, flower gardening and making homemade preserves.  He was preceded in death by his parents and by all of his siblings: Joseph Tyson Wilkins, Jr, Bill Wilkins, Sara Elizabeth Ellis, Louise Anderson, and Dot Fraley.

He survived by his wife of sixty one years:  Dorothy Wilkins of Brooksville, MS;

Sons: Bill Wilkins, Jr. (Vonnie) of Brooksville, MS and Robert Henley of Brooksville, MS; two grandchildren: Amanda (Chuck) Misso and Meria (Austin) Stewart; two great-grandchildren: Lakyn Stewart and Garret Misso and a very special caregiver Annie Shelton.