John Roy Wilson

On Sunday morning, September 6, 2026, John Roy Wilson peacefully passed away at his home on Oak Mountain in Hamilton, GA. 

John is survived by his wife, Wanda Scott Wilson; his three sons and their wives — John Daren Wilson (Kim), Derek Scott Wilson (Holly), and Robert Dustin Wilson (Susan); eight grandchildren — Kirin Lawson (Nick), James Wilson, Justin Wilson; Dusty Wilson (Whitney), Dylan Wilson (Katelynn), Davis Wilson (Echols); Jessica Perryman (Tim) and Rachel Wilson; and 5 great-grandchildren — Colt and Emma James Wilson, Louise Mae and Mary Davis Wilson, and Julian James Lawson. He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert Woodrow and Lucy Hood Wilson, and his sister Janice Covington (Gene). He is survived by his sister Joyce Ragsdale (Tyrone). 

A professional artist, John finished a commissioned painting days before his death. Art was his career — not a hobby — and it was always a pleasure for him. He never stopped studying and experimenting from the day he first picked up a brush as a teenager. In 1960, he married his high school sweetheart, Wanda Scott. While she worked as secretary to the Assistant Dean of Men at the University of Alabama, John earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. His love of Alabama football only intensified during those years. After graduation, he began a civil service career as an artist/illustrator at Fort Benning, GA, while also exhibiting at art shows and galleries. Winning First Place in the University of Alabama’s Arts Festival his senior year was the beginning of a very long string of awards, often Best of Show or First Place. His paintings were managed by the Sportsman’s Edge Gallery in New York, NY; the Marine Art Gallery in Annapolis, MD, the Tattler Gallery on Hilton Head Island, SC, the Left Bank Gallery on St. Simons Island, GA and HRH Antiques and Gallery in Pine Mountain, GA. He and his art were featured in articles in national magazines such as “Wildlife Art News,” “Sports Afield,” “Southwest Art” and “Shooting Sportsman.” One article, by a gallery owner, credited him with a “masterful touch with waterfowl.” In 1985, he provided the artwork for an aerospace conference in Washington, DC, for which he received a letter of commendation signed by President Ronald Reagan.

In 1988, his submitted painting was selected from almost 3000 entries to tour the United States for a year as one of the Top 100 paintings in the National Arts for the Parks competition. In a magazine article in “Wildlife Art News” about the tour, he was one of four artist whose work was singled out as “a marriage of wildlife and fine art.” An early retirement from civil service allowed him to paint full time and travel more extensively.He saved his favorite paintings each year to exhibit at two large prestigious shows — the Waterfowl Festival in Easton, MD in November and the Southeastern Wildlife Exhibition in Charleston, SC in February.After the show in Easton, MD each year, he and his wife, and sometimes family or friends who were invited to accompany them, would take the opportunity to travel to their favorite locations around Virginia and Pennsylvania, especially historic sites and the homes and studios of N. C. and Andrew Wyeth. He and his wife also enjoyed the history and scenery on strictly pleasure trips to New England. John also enjoyed traveling and camping in the Western US and Canada with his childhood friend, Tom Weathers. For years, John and his wife shared weekly date nights with a group of three other couples who enjoyed one another’s company immensely. As his ability to travel diminished, John enjoyed his morning coffee while listening to his wife read their travel diaries and reminiscing over old photographs of the interesting places they had visited.However, during the many years he painted and traveled, his other abiding passion was golf, which he happily shared with his three sons and golfing buddies, especially Mike Keeble and college friend, Bill Hahn. He absolutely loved golfing trips with his sons.In his later years, he could sometimes be found working as a ranger on the golf course at Callaway Gardens, just minutes from his home. When he wasn’t playing, of course.John’s paintings will continue to be enjoyed. In addition to charitable contributions, he made sure all his children and grandchildren have a painting of their choice. The week of his death, he received a note from a couple who bought one of his paintings in 1985 saying they were still enjoying their painting. 

John not only leaves a legacy of beautiful paintings, he leaves a legacy of funny tales and enduring friendships. He was a complex, one-of-a-kind soul and will be sorely missed, especially by the wife who spent many years laughing at and with him and treasures all the memories. She also treasures their three sons who gave her strength and took care of details every step of the way through this sad ordeal. Those sons will greatly miss golfing and spending time with their dad. The grandkids will miss the obvious pride their grandad took in them — their companionship, travels and achievements. And the whole family, especially the daughters-in-law, will miss his wit at family gatherings. As one of them said, “He was somewhat quiet because he could hardly get a word in edgewise with our rambunctious crowd, but when he did, it was always darned funny — or darned interesting!”So… not a bad slate of accomplishments for a guy who was happy just chasing a little white ball around a golf course!This rather lengthy accounting of John’s life is written for his great-grandchildren and future generations who will know him only through written word and photographs. John’s extended family will gather to celebrate his bountiful life on his birthday in October, with probably as many laughs as tears.

 The Wilson family would like to thank the kind staff and caring nurses of Columbus Hospice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Columbus Hospice , the John B. Amos Cancer Center, or First Tee, the non-profit organization that fosters character and sportsmanship in children.