Elsie Lorraine Tempest Wilkerson

Elsie Lorraine Tempest Wilkerson, age 83, a native of Sydney, Australia and long time gulf coast resident, passed away Tuesday, August 21, 2012, after a lengthy illness. A war bride, she came to America in 1947, landing in San Francisco, and making her way to the deep south. She was married to Dr. Buford Hayes Wilkerson for 60 years, raising 3 sons in the process. She had a great passion for gardening, cooking, dogs, reading, and art. She also loved children and was at one time a beloved volunteer at the Ocean Springs elementary school in the reading program. She was preceded in death by her parents, Elsie (Nana) Tempest, and William John (Jack) Tempest, a WWI veteran of the Australian Army. Survivors included her husband, Dr. Buford H. Wilkerson, her sons, Dr. Chris Wilkerson (Phyllis), Kim Wilkerson R.N. (Junie), and Kelvin Wilkerson R.N. (Audrey), and 6 grandchildren, Zachary, Charles (Courtney), Tempest (Lollie), Benjamin, Owen, and Stella. She is also survived by a sister, Patricia Dawn Harper, niece, Andra Walker, and nephew, Kent Burnham of Jackson, and a grand niece, Stephanie Alfano (Texas). Visitation will be held on Saturday, August 25, 2012 from 10 am to 11 am with an 11 am Memorial Service at Bradford O’Keefe Funeral Home in Ocean Springs. There will be a family only interment at Pine Grove United Methodist Cemetery in Lucedale, Mississippi.