It is with profound sadness that we announce the transition of Deacon Frank Wiley, Sr. Deacon Wiley passed on Thursday, May 5, 2022 at his home. Services for Deacon Wiley will be held at the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church on Saturday, May 14, 2022, at 11:00 A.M. with interment to follow in Staley Memorial Gardens.
Deacon Willie Frank Wiley, Sr., Chairman of the Deacon’s Board at Friendship Missionary Baptist Church, passed away quietly at home, May 5, 2022. He was a Christian man who loved his family and friends, his city, and his beloved church. Over his 100 years and 15 days of life, he touched many lives around the globe.
Deacon Wiley, affectionately called “Poppi” by family and friends, was born April 20, 1922, to the parentage of Linsey and Jennie (Reed) Wiley, share-croppers for Arch Helms off the Old Dawson Road in Americus, GA. Poppi was preceded in death by his parents, six sisters: Eura Bell Copeland, Eutha Gibson, Eunice McGrady, Bobbie Wiley, Walter Mae Floyd, and Vivian Cooper; three brothers: Clyde, James Bowman, and Charlie James Wiley; and grandchildren: Wiley Shelman Cooke and Mary Edwina Cooke-Hite.
As a child, he joined the Mt. Zion A.M.E. Church. In 1950, he met and married Mary Elizabeth Wiley and, in 1961, joined the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church by Christian Experience where he faithfully served in many capacities including Sunday school teacher, Men’s Choir member, Deacon, and Chairman of the Board of Deacons until his death.
Poppi received his early education at the Seay School for Colored Children on the Dawson Road excelling in math. His parents were forced to take him out of school by the farmer they worked for to help in the fields. On April 23, 2022, one of his greatest dreams was realized when he was awarded his high school diploma by the Sumter County Board of Education during the celebration of his 100th birthday.
After leaving the farm and his parents, Poppi married Mary Watson. He began working at Still Gas Company making cement blocks for $15.00 weekly. Later, he would work construction for Charles Wheatley who recognized his intelligence and sold him his first and only home, at Jacob’s Lumber Company, and, finally, for the Georgia Department of Administrative Services Division of Surplus Property as a forklift operator retiring after 30 years of service as the Assistant Manager in 1989.
His community activities included the Civil Rights Marches for Justice and Freedom in the early 1960’s, the Parent / Teacher Association while his children were in school, the NAACP, the Lincoln – Douglas Memorial Association as Treasurer, volunteering as a Red Coat at our local hospital for 18 years, Bailiff in the Americus City Court, the Prince Hall Masons F & A M District #14, the Third District Laymen, the Gum Creek Missionary Association, and the Georgia Missionary Baptist Convention just to name a few.
Deacon Wiley is survived by his wife, Bernice Smothers Wiley; two children: Wilma Wiley Cooke (Col. Charles E. Cooke, USMC, Ret. – deceased) and Willie Frank Wiley, Jr.; four grandchildren, eighteen great-grandchildren, ten great-great-grandchildren and a host of devoted nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
Words cannot express the pure joy shown on our father's face when he entered the Hope Center of the Friendship Missionary Baptist Church to find the many family and friends gathered in that beautifully decorated space by Nadine Pope to celebrate his 100th birthday on April 23rd. The day was made even more memorable by the awarding of his long sought after high school diploma sanctioned by Dr. Torrance Choates and the Sumter County Board of Education presented on their behalf by Assistant Superintendent Kimothy Hadley.
To all of you who made this day such a joyous occasion, we say, “Thank you”
To view this service live or at a later date, click on the link below, or watch it on our Facebook page.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/CTFY4VcAPbQ
To print a copy of this program, click on the link below
Frank Wiley Sr Program (1).pdf