October 17, 1945 ~ June 24, 2026 (age 80)
If you ever met Garey Wilkerson, chances are you have a story about him. Maybe he stopped what he was doing to lend you a helping hand. Maybe he stayed long after everyone else had gone home, caught up in conversation. Maybe he made you smile or laugh when you needed it the most. Perhaps, he simply made you feel like you mattered.
That was Garey.
He had a way of making you feel like you were the only person in the world. He never met a stranger, never seemed too busy to lend a helping hand, tell a story, or simply brighten your day. His smile reached his eyes and made you feel at home.
On June 24, 2026, Garey passed away peacefully at the age of 80, surrounded by family he loved more than anything. Born on October 17, 1945, to Motis and Jewel Wilkerson, Garey grew up in Riverview, Alabama, the youngest of four children. The river was his playground; baseball was his first love, and sitting still was not an option. Affectionally called “hard head” by his mother, and everyone who knew him knew why. Once Garey set his mind to something, there was not much that could stop him.
As a little boy, he desperately wanted to play baseball with the Riverview men’s team. He settled on being their ball boy, faithfully showing up and waiting for his chance. Eventually, they let him play, and he never looked back. Baseball and softball became lifelong passions. Whether he was on the field, in the stands, or talking about the game, it brought him joy. One of his proudest athletic accomplishments came years later when his Ampex softball team competed and impressively placed 9th in the Industrial World Series tournament.
Garey loved to work—not because he had to, but because he genuinely enjoyed building, repairing, solving problems, and most importantly, helping people. He spent 37 years at Ampex, working his way to Maintenance Manager before the company closed. If something needed repair, people naturally looked for Garey because there was a good chance he could fix it.
Having graduated from Faulkner University, teaching became another one of his gifts. As an adjunct professor at West Georgia Technical College and later a welding instructor at the Franklin County Career Technical Center, he did far more than teach a trade. He believed in people. He encouraged his students and taught them valuable skills and lessons—both inside and outside the classroom. He also proudly served his country in the United States Navy for four years, spending time on an aircraft carrier during the Vietnam War. He loved his country deeply and carried that pride with quiet humility for his entire life.
But if you asked Garey what he was most proud of, he would not have talked about awards or promotions. He would have talked about Deborah. He would have told you about them growing up together in Riverview, sitting on her front porch as teenagers while her daddy watched from inside the house. He would have smiled talking about the life they built together over 59 years of marriage. They were partners in every sense of the word, and if you saw one of them, the other usually was not far behind. He would have talked about his children, Kevin, Jody, Deborah, his grandchildren, and his great-grandchildren. He would have talked about family.
He believed the best days were the ones spent together. Every Fourth of July meant family ballgames and time by the pool. Thanksgiving was his favorite holiday because it meant a house full of people he loved. Every year he looked forward to renting a house in Gulf Shores so the whole family could spend a month making memories under the same roof. Those were not just vacations to him—they were investments in the people who mattered most.
His grandchildren knew him simply as Grandaddy. To them, he was not just a grandfather. He was the one who could turn an ordinary afternoon into a magical adventure. They begged him to tell stories about the legendary “Goat Man” who lived at the end of the road. They laughed at his jokes and quick wit, played ball in the yard, and learned that imagination was one of life’s greatest gifts. Grandaddy never rushed those moments and had a unique ability to make fun out of anything or nothing at all. He made every grandchild feel like they were the most important person in the room. Years from now, they may not remember every story exactly as he told it, but they will always remember how he made them feel.
Life’s simple pleasures were his favorites. A cup of coffee on the porch. A John Wayne movie. The sound of whippoorwills on a summer evening. Beautiful flowers. A sunset. Baseball. Food cooking on the grill. A good “neck-hug.” A conversation that lasted longer than expected. He found joy in ordinary days because the people he loved were part of them.
Garey is survived by his beloved wife of 59 years, Deborah Wilkerson; his son, Kevin Wilkerson; his daughter, Deborah (John) Mitchell; his grandchildren, Bailey (Cody) Raughton, Zane (Jenna) Wilkerson, Tyler Wilkerson, Jordan Wilkerson, Kenadie Wilkerson, Devin (Lauren) Wilkerson, Lola Grossman, and Brett Wilkerson; and his great-grandchildren, Austyn, Riley, Collins, Wrenley, Griffin, and Anderson. Garey was preceded in death by his parents, Motis and Jewel Wilkerson; his son, Jody Wilkerson; and his siblings, Jackie Smallwood, Bobby Wilkerson, and Carey Wilkerson.
There will never be another Garey Wilkerson.
The things he built will eventually wear out. The stories he told will have to live on through others. But the kindness he showed, the people he mentored, the traditions he started, and the love he gave so freely will continue to ripple through his family for generations.
If you listen closely on a summer evening, hear the crack of a bat at a family ballgame, smell something cooking on the grill, or find yourself sitting on a front porch with people you love, you will understand something Garey knew all along: The best parts of life were never the big moments; they were the people you shared them with.
A Celebration of Garey’s life will take place on Friday, July 10th at the First Christian Church of Riverview. The family will receive visitors at 2 ET, followed by a service to honor and remember Garey at 3 ET.
Please visit Garey’s Memorial Tribute page at www.johnsonbrownservicefh.com to leave a kind word for his family, to share a memory of Garey, or to light a Remembrance Candle in his memory.
Johnson Brown-Service Funeral Home of Valley directing.
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