Kenneth Evan Wilson

Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. - 2 Corinthians 3:17

Kenneth Evan Wilson, son of the late Deacon Frank Kenneth and Bessie Evans Wilson, was born on May 15, 1966. While at Virginia Hospital Center in Arlington, Kenny made his transition on Saturday, April 24, 2021 while in the arms of his sister and brother in love after suffering from complications due to Covid-19. Kenny, delivered into a world with restrictions, was not permitted to be born at the very hospital in which he would lose his life. Because of the color of his parents’ skin, had to be born in Washington, DC at The George Washington University Hospital. 

The color of his skin would not be the only challenge Kenny faced in life. Born with an intellectual disability, his parents worked tirelessly to ensure Kenny was educated in the best programming options available within Arlington Public Schools. And he flourished. Earning his high school diploma in 1985, Kenny was admitted into a special program that afforded ably different learners to secure employment with the Social Security Administration. Kenny worked for nearly 36 years as a reprographics technician and was well known not just throughout his department, but the entire building. 

As with wherever he went, Kenny was quite popular and known for his chatty conversations which always consisted of sports, the latest happenings, and upcoming events. He had an impeccable memory and a gift for numbers and would recite every friend and family member’s birthday, which was no easy task when blessed with about 25 aunts, uncles, and nearly 50 first cousins. Before departing, he made sure to remind you of his birthdate too by saying, “My birthday May 15th.”

Though a lifelong resident of the family home, Kenny was independent. Not one for allowing limitations to restrict him, one would often find him walking throughout the neighborhood to his destinations or catching a ride to one of the local high school sports games (he opted not to secure a driver’s license, citing, “these people drive crazy” as the reason).  It was at a young age that Kenny’s sense of humor and character-like nature emerged. He relished in telling jokes and making others laugh. It came naturally for him and he was good at it, too. But if you ever wanted to get him started in a one-sided conversation, simply start talking sports. An avid supporter of the home teams, he watched them, collected their gear, and defended them fiercely.

Above his love for sports was the love he had for his family. In his final days, Kenny rattled off how much he loved his entire family, stating, “I love everybody!” Kenny was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church for 41 years and gave his life to Jesus Christ at the young age of 13. He had a secret love of singing gospel songs, with the last one being, “Jesus is My Rock” just a week before he met his Savior.