Brigitte Mary Wilson

Brigitte Mary Telford Wilson, loved Aiken and called it her home for twenty nine years.  She was living in Bel Air, Maryland at the time of her death on April 3, 2022, just two days before her 85^th birthday. 

Brigitte was born on April 5, 1937 in Clifton, NJ, the daughter of Joseph and Frances Telford. She is predeceased by an elder sister Evelyn Lyding. She is survived by her husband Richard A. Wilson; four children; sons, Richard A. Jr (Crystal) Wilson, Erik J. (Jackie) Wilson, and daughters Lani F. (Michael) Longarzo and Kristin A. (Todd) Morris; eight grandchildren: Sara A. and Erik J. Jr. Wilson; Richard A. III and Christopher (Rachel) Wilson; Ryan (Kerri) and Alec (Rachel) Longarzo; Aaron (Alyssa) Morris, and Brenden Morris. There are six great grandchildren: Sunni, Sophia and Sawyer Wilson, Everett Wilson, Ryker Wilson, Sofia Longarzo and Emerson Longarzo. 

Brigitte graduated from Clifton, NJ High School, fifth in her class of 498, in June 1954; received an Associate of Arts degree in Organic Chemistry from Fairleigh Dickenson College in Rutherford, NJ in 1956, and Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Towson University, Towson, MD in June 1989. With a GPA of 3.6, she was inducted into Alpha Kappa Delta, International Sociology Honor Society. 

Brigitte began her married life with Richard upon his graduation and commissioning as a Regular Army Second Lieutenant, United States Army Infantry on June 29, 1958. Shortly after marriage, she moved with Richard to his new assignment to the First of the Fourteenth Infantry, Twenty Fifth Infantry Division in the Territory of Hawaii. For the next twenty-six years she and her growing family moved around the world giving her the opportunity to develop her domestic and international experience.  

During those years, Brigitte was often a substitute teacher for elementary, high school and college students in various states and countries; worked with children with academic and emotional problems; was a test administrator for SAT, CLEP, GATB, and GED exams, and other special testing such as real estate and real estate broker exams.  As an Adjunct Instructor at Harford Community College, she also worked with child psychologists from Walter Reed Medical Center in helping children with emotional and educational problems.  While her husband was stationed in Germany, she, her husband, and her children were extras in German television and movies, and she was also American Youth Talent Coordinator for Bavarian Film Studios in Munich Germany. 

Brigitte was an adamant supporter of women’s rights long before there was such a term.  She always believed and stressed the importance of one having common sense and being good to one another.  Her life career includes working and participating in various charitable groups and clubs throughout the years including the Red Cross, Girl and Boy Scout organizations and many other women’s clubs.  For almost twenty years she supported The Aiken Association of University Women (AAUW); now known as Aiken County Community Association and worked at their Annual Book and Attic Treasures Sale.  For many years she also worked in the Aiken County Historical Museum’s Gift Shop, and was an active member of Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church in Gloverville, SC. 

In lieu of flowers, a donation to Friends of the Animal Shelter, P.O. Box 2207, Aiken, SC 29802, (803) 514-4313 or Our Lady of the Valley Catholic Church, P.O. Box 419, Gloverville, SC 29828, (803) 599-3245 would be appreciated. 

A private memorial service will be held for family members only and burial at Arlington National Cemetery will be held at a later date.