Mr. Earl Jackson Wilkerson, age 89 of Sparta, a native of Sparks, Georgia, passed away at  4:37am on Thursday, June 5, 2025 at NHC of Sparta.

Earl was born November 21, 1935 in Sparks, Georgia to the late Jack Calvin and Beulah Vernice Brown Wilkerson. As a Church of Christ Minister for over 58 years, his ministry took him to several churches in the South including 48 years in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Earl loved all aspects of being a minister, especially being able to help people solve their problems. He was instrumental in raising funds to help get Angel's Place established, an orphanage that was very dear to him in India. His strong work ethic began on his family farm and continued through his time at David Lipscomb University. There, he served as a minister at Corinth Church of Christ, raised five children, worked a job setting type for a Bible publisher, all in addition to his college work. He will fondly be remembered for never seeing a challenge that he could not tackle. In Earl's spare time, he enjoyed traveling and working on his tractors.

In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by son Larry Earl Wilkerson; brother Paul Wilkerson and infant sister Barbara Jean Wilkerson.

Surviving family members include his wife of 70 years Jean Cowart Wilkerson

Daughters: Cheryl (Phil) Hackett, Linda Milliken, Phyllis (Mike) Young, Terri (Adam) Dean

Sisters: Sarah Elliot, Iris Jo Moore and Carlene Evans

A host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews also survive

Funeral services in Adel, Georgia are pending