Jackie B. Wilkins

Jackie Burris Wilkins, 84, of Durham, NC, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, January 10, 2026, passing peacefully in his sleep.

Born on March 14, 1941, in Bahama, NC, Jackie was the fifth of ten children of Hellon Primrose Wilkins, Sr. and Hettie Ben Cash Wilkins, and the last to be born at home. His family later settled in Stem, Granville County, on Tump Wilkins Road among many Wilkins tobacco farms. Jackie enjoyed a joyful childhood surrounded by siblings and cousins, working on the tobacco farm, raising animals, and helping grow the family’s food. He graduated from Stem High School in 1959.

Jackie’s first love may have been his 1962 Chevy with its shiny red interior, but it was quickly eclipsed by the love of his life, Mary Bell Curtis of Lenoir, NC. They met at the Henderson skating rink and married on April 18, 1964, sharing nearly 62 devoted years together in Durham.

Jackie retired in 2005 after many years with Penny Furniture Company, where he managed the warehouse for multiple stores. He was admired for his honesty, dependability, and the genuine respect he showed everyone he worked with.

Family was the heart of Jackie’s life. He is survived by his beloved wife, Mary; his children, Pamela Lynn (Daron) and Rodney Curtis Wilkins; and his grandchildren, Meredith (David), William (Leah), and Elizabeth (Andrew). He was “Grandpa” to Grace, Wesley, and Henry, with a fourth great-grandchild on the way. Jackie treasured his brothers and sisters as his closest friends and delighted in his 33 nieces and nephews. And to some neighborhood children, he quietly became a beloved adopted father figure.

Saved as a child, Jackie committed his life to the Lord and was a longtime member of Faith Baptist Church. He was a content, easygoing man who loved deeply. Nothing brought him more joy than time with his family—whether at a ballgame, school event, or a simple Bojangles breakfast.

Jackie enjoyed many hobbies but his greatest joy was being a dad, grandpa, and brother. He loved airplanes, space and following the weather. In earlier years he spent hours on his CB radio under the handle “Hungry Jack,” a fitting name for a man who adored Mary’s homemade biscuits. He also loved tending the backyard flower garden with his family. A devoted sports fan, he rarely missed a basketball or baseball game on TV.

Jackie was a blessing to all who knew him—a good and gentle man.

Services will be held Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at Faith Baptist Church in Durham, NC, with Pastor Andrew Ivester officiating. Visitation begins at 12:30 followed by the funeral at 2 p.m. Burial will take place at South Granville Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers will be David Barbee, Will Hyatt, Andrew Smith, Michael Boyd, Brian Wilkins, and Steven Wilkins, with honorary pallbearer Gibson Boyd.

The service will be streamed at faithdurham.church

While flowers are welcome, the family invites memorial donations to Faith Baptist Church in honor of a life that continues to bear fruit.