Chalmers Wilson, III

Chalmers Wilson III, 79, of Marianna, Florida, passed peacefully at his home on Tuesday, November 25, 2025.

Born in Marianna on September 26, 1946, to the late Chalmers Jr. and Evelyn Wilson, Chalmers was a proud native son whose life was marked by faith, family, education, and service to others.

A graduate of Florida A&M University, he was a proud member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and earned certifications in education, adult learning, and online counseling. His professional career began at the U.S. Department of Energy, where he devoted 50 years of service and retired as Assistant Manager of Technology Services after a long and distinguished tenure.

Never one to truly retire, Chalmers continued his lifelong commitment to education by teaching math at Bay Correctional Facility and Gulf Coast College for 15 years, where he inspired students of all backgrounds to keep learning and striving.

He lived a life of devotion—to his family, his church, and his community. Chalmers lovingly cared for his parents in their later years and later became the steadfast caregiver to his beloved wife, Sandra, with whom he shared 57 wonderful years of marriage. Together, they raised two children and took immense joy in their two grandchildren, who were the light of his life.

A man of faith and purpose, Chalmers was an active member of First United Methodist Church in Panama City, a lifetime member of the NAACP, and a supporter of the Chipola Historical Trust. Always seeking growth, he earned a yoga certification at age seventy—an example of his enduring curiosity and belief in self-improvement.

Chalmers’ vision for community was realized through the West End Sankofa Abode (W.E.S.A.), a center he founded to bring people together for conversation, learning, and fellowship. “Sankofa,” meaning “learning from the past to build a better future,” embodied his lifelong philosophy. He also led the effort to establish a historical marker honoring the West End Community in Marianna, continuing a legacy of civic pride begun by his father.

Outside of work and service, Chalmers lived each day to the fullest. He found joy on the tennis court and golf course, in teaching Sunday School, and in writing. He authored Wisdom: A Journey or a Destination? and contributed thoughtful essays to the Jackson County Times. His personal motto—“Love, Live, and Learn”—reflected the way he approached each day: with gratitude, kindness, and an open heart.

Chalmers is survived by his devoted wife, Sandra B. Wilson; his children, Ramona Wilson of the University of Tennessee County Technical Assistance Service, and Marcus Wilson (Shunda) of Corning, NY ; and his cherished grandchildren, Alyssa Cannon Wilson (UNC–Charlotte, Architecture major) and Alexander Chalmers Wilson (7th grade), and one brother, Stanley Wilson (Gayle-wife) Lake Worth, FL.

A private inurnment will be held at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Marianna, with James & Sikes Funeral Home Maddox Chapel in charge of arrangements.

One of Chalmers’s favorite prayers was the Serenity Prayer, which he carried close to his heart and lived by every day:

God grant me the serenity

to accept the things I cannot change;

courage to change the things I can;

and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

enjoying one moment at a time,

accepting hardships as the pathway to peace,

trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will,

that I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.