GREENVILLE – Donald Earl Wilkins, born January 7, 1944, to Bro. Everett and Ora Dell Wilkins, went to be with his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, on Saturday, October 17, 2026.

When he was 9 years old he realized he was a sinner and that Jesus was the Son of God, had lived a perfect life, died on a cross, was buried and rose three days later from the grave. He believed on Jesus by faith to forgive him of his sins and save him and the Lord graciously saved him by His grace.

He and Linda Drake Wilkins were wed on June 12, 1966, and he was a graduate of Bremen High School in 1962.

He worked for Lester Motors Ford from 1962 – 1981 as the head of the parts and service department, until an accident in 1981.

He surrendered to preach in 1971 and began pastoring in 1972 at New Hope Missionary Baptist Church until 1981. After serving there, the Lord then called him to Carter Creek Missionary Baptist Church where he served the Lord from 1981 until 2002. He then was called to pastor Nelson Creek Missionary Baptist Church from 2002 until 2015. He “retired” until Pathway Missionary Baptist Church in Cromwell, KY called him to be their pastor where he served from 2016 until the Fall of 2025, even through a bout of lung cancer from 2023-2025. He spent these years following the Lord Jesus, shepherding the Lord’s flock entrusted to him at these churches, studying and preaching the Word of God, making disciples, and seeking personally to constantly grow more and more as a follower of the Lord Jesus himself until the day he went to be with the Lord Jesus. He would be seen even up until this past week reading and studying the Bible to seek to know and grow in the Lord Jesus. He also served working at Tucker Funeral home during his pastorate at Pathway Baptist.

He was known by several names: Donnie, Don, husband, Dad, Popsey (to his grandchildren and great grandson), Pastor, Brother Donnie, Preacher, and friend. But honestly, what he was and is a Jesus follower & lover of His Word & gospel. Perfect? No. (And he’d be the first to say no.) His love for his wife, kids, their spouses, his grandkids, and great grandson, and others was undeniable. But his heart for Jesus, the Word of God, the gospel, truth, right, people, and souls served as a great example to his family and everyone that knew him or knew of him. He loved, prayed daily for, pointed his family and others to Jesus and His Word. He loved to laugh and pick, as all who knew him know….and it was always out of love, jest, and good fun…and no one was off limits. He called his wife Margaret, as everyone knew and even come to refer to her as, to be funny even though her name is not Margaret at all. He would joke with a friend about Christmas lights. He constantly made sure that his grandkids knew who was “number 1” and at times said he told them he was thinking of changing actually who is “number 1.” Of himself, he would often say, “There’s nothing good in or about me but Jesus. I fall so short. But Jesus is good & has saved me. Stick with the Lord and His Word. Trust Him and His Word. You just be faithful. No matter what others do, you do right and just be faithful to the Lord.”

After battling cancer and then complications from treatment for his cancer, although his health was not well the last couple of years, his attitude, faith in Jesus, concern and care for others, and desire to finish well for the Lord were a humbling and deeply encouraging, and amazing example to his wife, kids, grandkids, great grandson, church family, and friends.

On Saturday morning, he finished his race and was called home to Heaven to be with the Lord Jesus, the One he trusted by faith, studied about for so long, pointed others to, worshipped, preached about, that he wanted and desired to be more like, and desired to tell and to see others come to know as well as Savior. His faith became sight on Saturday morning and he entered into his eternal reward because of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He finished faithfully and went “home” to be with Him forever, and where others that knew Jesus have gone before him and all those that know Jesus can also go after Him if they too believe on the Lord Jesus as their Savior and Lord. He leaves a great void in the life of his family and friends. But they rejoice that he is whole, healed, and home with Jesus! And they echo the words of Jesus when He said: “Well done good and faithful servant.”

God is Good all the time. All the time God is Good.

He was preceded in death by his parents, sister Luticia (Paul), brother Leslie, sister-in-law Judy, and great-granddaughter Maggie Martin  …. And leaves behind his wife Linda, daughter Vanessa (Mack) McGehee, sons Dennis (Amy) Wilkins, Matthew (Nikki) Wilkins, grandchildren Samantha (Cody) Martin, Morgan McGehee, Alex Wilkins, Nick (Meredith) Wilkins, Lexi Wilkins, great grandson Tucker McGehee-Sherrod, brothers Phil and Micah Wilkins, sister-in-law Sue Wilkins, along with many nieces and nephews.

The visitation will be at Carter Creek Missionary Baptist Church on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, beginning at 10:00AM.   The funeral and celebration service will begin at 1:00PM on Tuesday, October 20, 2026 at Carter Creek Missionary Baptist Church, officiated by his pastor and friend, Pastor John “Butch” Day III, and immediately followed by burial at Carter Creek Baptist Church Cemetery next to the church.  The family invites all to come.

Tucker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.  Online condolences may be made at www.tuckerfuneralhomes.com.