Mt. Moriah Baptist Church at 2634 Carnes Ave. was filled to capacity and then some last Saturday as hundreds turned out to say farewell to Jesse Wilburn Jr., who thrilled many as an athlete and touched the lives of others as a teacher a coach.
Mr. Wilburn, who died Dec. 1, was a graduate of Melrose High School (1954). At Tennessee State University, he starred on the 1956 football team that beat Florida A&M University for the national championship.
A two-time inductee into the Tennessee State University Sports Hall of Fame, Mr. Wilburn was a teacher and coach at his Alma Mater, Melrose High School. He was an ISS teacher at Kingsbury Middle School.
A member of the Alpha Theta Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Mr. Wilburn worked as a sales representative for Josten’s and became part owner of Pe-Je Record Shop, Pe-Je Burger Bar and Business & Pleasure Travel Agency.
Mr. Wilburn was a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church, Tennessee State University “Big Blue Club” and a founding member of Melrose Boosters.
He leaves his wife, Margaret, two sons, Kelvin and Barry, two grandchildren, Jordan and Dominique, and a brother, Eric “Donnie” (Jewel).
Interment was in New Park Cemetery. Harrison’s Memorial Chapel, Inc. had charge.
