Bertha Jean (Peoples) Wilson was born on July 25, 1938, in Marion County, Alabama. She was born to a family that sharecropped for a living. She worked hard as a youth and moved often. Many days were spent in the cotton fields of the South. The long days were made more bearable by the closeness she shared with her siblings. Despite only being able to attend school through the 7th grade, she had beautiful handwriting. She was a simple woman who loved simple pleasures like Little Debbie snacks, Diet Dr. Pepper, game shows and her Soap opera. She loved visiting with her beloved family members. She continued to make new friends all the way to the end as her life and was the much-loved patient of her hospice nurses. She had a quick wit and dry, sometimes spicy, sense of humor. You knew you had her love if you were honored to have her tease you. Jean loved to sing, and she loved Jesus. Some of her favorite memories came from her time on Unity Broadcasting Channel 39 in Fulton. She and her sisters Wilma and Hilma had a weekly half hour show called The Peoples' Choice where they praised the Lord through song. She deeply loved her nieces, nephews, and cousins in Mississippi. She talked to them constantly and felt their love for her. Her eldest child Larry was extra special to her throughout her life. In addition to Larry, she gave birth to four more children through her marriage to Elbert Sheffield. After the passing of her husband Emmitt, she spent her time among her children and grands in Missouri, Mississippi, Kentucky, and Iowa. The final months of her life were spent in Prior Lake, Minnesota. She passed peacefully at home surrounded by love.

Services will be at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, October 14, at the McNeece-Morris Funeral Home Chapel in Mantachie. Burial will be in the Center Star Cemetery. Visitation will be on Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the funeral home.

She leaves behind to celebrate her life five children, Larry Gentry, Jamie Gardner, Jeff Sheffield (Charla), Tim Sheffield (Tina), Belinda Buchanan (Eric), 12 Grandchildren, 22 great-grandchildren and many beloved nieces, nephews and many extended family members and friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents David and Jetti Peoples; 10 siblings; and her husband Emmitt Wilson.