Rosetta (Gooding) Wilkins

The service of Mrs. Wilkins will be live streamed on the Facebook Page of Fisher Memorial Funeral Parlor.

Rosetta Gooding Wilkins, affectionately known as Rose or Sister, was born July 24, 1940, to the late John Walter and Fannie Olivia Gooding Price in Beulaville, North Carolina. She departed this on August 16, 2021, at her home in Durham, North Carolina.

Rose was raised by her beloved grandmother, Rosa Gooding, where she learned the love of cooking and spent summers farming. She was educated in the Duplin County School System.

Rose married the late Thomas Clayton Wilkins and moved to Plainfield, New Jersey where she began a career as a presser at Vodge Cleaners in Plainfield. The couple later relocated to Durham, North Carolina where she continued her career as a presser working at Weaver Cleaners for over 25 years and Quick as a Wink for 10 years before retiring. She was skilled at her craft, and her son Warren’s jeans always had sharp, defined creases all through high school. She enjoyed baking and gardening.

Rose joined New Hope Missionary Baptist Church and served God faithfully as an usher for over 25 years. She loved Bible Study and loved serving God. She wrote, “I’ve got my house in order. I love the Lord.”

Rose also loved all her children and grandchildren, but anyone who knew her knew that her grandson, Jordan, had a very special place in her heart. And he loved his grandma deeply, diligently caring for her and making she took all her medicine. Juan, her other grandson, was her own personal nurse and was always her first choice to accompany her doctor’s appointments; the rest of the family were simply backups, only called upon if he was not available.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 55 years, Thomas Clayton Wilkins, brothers Herbert Price, Lemuel Taft Price Jr., James Alonzo Price, and Norman Price; sisters Linda Carol Price, Patricia O. Price, and Edna Thomas.

Rose was a loving mother, grandmother, and friend. She leaves to mourn and cherish her memories sons, James Nelson Fennell of Smyrna, Georgia, Charles Wilkins (Vanessa) of Flanders, New Jersey, Warren Wilkins (Tearrah) of Durham, North Carolina, and Slew Wilkins of Atlanta, Georgia; Sisters Virginia Ann Price of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and

Sandy Johnson (Carlos) of Hampton, Virginia; Sisters-in-law Minnie Price of Chinquapin, Durham, Rose Price of Germany, Louise Weeks of Durham, North Carolina and Mary Parker of Beulaville, North Carolina; Brother-in-law, Glen Wilkins of Beulaville, North Carolina; Grandchildren, Juan and Jordan Wilkins both of Durham, North Carolina, Charles II, Brandon and Kayla Wilkins of Flanders, New Jersey; very special nephew and niece Allen Rock Parker and Janice Johnson both of Durham, North Carolina; special friend, Larry Hump Parker of Norfolk Virginia, best friend of over 50 years Carol Riggins, and a very special neighbor and friend, Donna Parker, and a host of relatives, family and friends.

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