Joel Wilkison April 17, 1962 – September 5, 2020

Joel Lynn Wilkison, 58, passed away on September 5, 2020 at Unity Health Hospital in Searcy, after a long battle with heart disease. He was the oldest son of Joe and Diane Wilkison and born in Brinkley, Arkansas on April 17, 1962. He became a 1980 graduate of Brinkley High School and later attended Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

Joel was raised working on the family farm and chose to stay with that vocation. He later became owner and operator of Wilkison Land Leveling, providing professional land development to farmers in surrounding areas as a Precision Ag Specialist

He and Joy Warren were married July 23, 1983 at the West Helena Baptist Church and after living a time in Blackton and Wheatley, settled in Brinkley. Their lives were blessed with three children and in time the addition of their families.

Joel was a dedicated and lifelong member of the First Baptist Church, and was baptized on March 29, 1970. Through the years he served as a deacon and on the men’s committee, as well as a Sunday School teacher, Vacation Bible School teacher and choir member.

In earlier years, Joel served as a coach with the baseball/softball youth summer programs and loved working with the kids. Other things he enjoyed included: hunting, cooking, reading, singing and visiting with family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his father, Joe Wilkison.

Immediate survivors include: his wife, Joy Wilkison of Brinkley; son, Jarrod Wilkison and wife, Jordan (Nash) of Brinkley; daughters, Jessica Sheffer and husband, Daniel of Wynne and Jordan Wilkison of Brinkley; granddaughter, Finley Claire Sheffer; mother, Diane Dorman Wilkison of Brinkley; brothers, Wayne Wilkison and wife, Wendy of Heber Springs and Kevin Wilkison of Grove, Oklahoma.

Services were September 9 at the First Baptist Church with interment in Oaklawn Cemetery by Bob Neal & Sons Funeral Home, all located in Brinkley.