Mother Della O. Sawyer Wilds

It is with heartfelt sorrow that the management and staff of Mitchell-Josey Funeral Home, Inc. announces the passing of Mother Della O. Sawyer Wilds of 111 Avenue F, Darlington.  Mother Wilds transitioned from labor to reward peacefully on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 in a Florence hospital. 

Celebration of Life will be 12 noon on Tuesday, December 8, 2020 in Salem Baptist Church. Interment will follow In Darlington Memorial Cemetery, D Avenue, Darlington. 

The Obituary

    “For now I am ready to be offered and the time of my departure is at hand.  I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith, henceforth, there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day; and not to me only, but unto all them also that love His appearing.”                        II Timothy 4:6-8

   Mrs. Della Olivia Sawyer Wilds departed this life on Tuesday, December 1, 2020 in MUSC of Florence, SC.  She was born in Darlington, South Carolina on Sunday, December 5, 1920 a daughter of the late Thomas and Sena Poole Sawyer.

    Della attended and graduated from the Darlington County Public Schools.  She later attended Orchid School of Beauty Culture and graduated in the 10th Annual Graduation in 1939.

    She was a faithful member of Salem Baptist Church where she was a part of several ministries.  She was most proud to be known as “Mother of the Church” and thought of as mother to several in the community. 

    Della was joined in marriage to Nathaniel “J.K.” Wilds, Sr. on December 28, 1941 who preceded her in death.  To this union, three children were conceived.

    Those left to cherish her precious memory are:  two sons: Nathaniel (Mae) Wilds, Jr. of New York and Vincent (Anita) Wilds of Virginia; one daughter, Tanya Wilds Bailey of Darlington, SC; a nephew reared as a son, Darryl Wilds of New York; six grandchildren:  Evelyn, Jonathan, Chelsea, Taylor, Shamiek and Tonya; six great grandchildren: Danielle, Johnathan, Jordyn, Santana, Darrell and Calvin Jr.; a sister-in-law, Hilda Phinizy of NC; a brother-in-law, James (Georgiana) Wilds of NC; a loving cousin, Lillie Mae Cain of Virginia; a special sister, Dr. Annette C. Billie of NC; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and adopted children of the community that were loved as her own.

     Her motto was “May the work I’ve done, speak for me”.

Please keep the Wilds family in your thoughts and prayers.  

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Mother Della O. Sawyer Wilds, please visit our floral store.