Daniel Watt Wilkes Sr. died April 1, 2010, at his home in Redwood. He was 64.

An avid farmer and aviator, Wilkes was raised in and around Cary, Rolling Fork and Fitler. He was a graduate of Rolling Fork High School and attended Mississippi College and Mississippi State University. He was recognized as Mississippi Farm Bureau’s Outstanding Young Farmer in 1972. He was a member of the Vicksburg Wing of the Civil Air Patrol in the early 1970s. After retiring from active farming and flying, he worked for Werner Enterprises and Ergon.

Wilkes was a longtime member of The Church of the Holy Trinity, Episcopal, where he served as both sexton and warden during renovations in the 1980s, and later as verger.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James Henry Wilkes and Mabel Claire Rushing Hendricks Wilkes. He is survived by his brother, James H. Wilkes III of Redwood; his children, Lauren Clark Wilkes of Vicksburg and Daniel Watt Wilkes Jr. of Redwood; three grandsons, Edward James Auttonberry, Paul Gregory Auttonberry and Daniel Watt Wilkes III; and two nephews, James H. Wilkes IV and Paul Rushing Wilkes of New Jersey.

Visitation with the family will be from 12:30 until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, April 6, at The Church of the Holy Trinity, with the memorial service immediately following. The Rev. Michael Nation will officiate and the Rev. Green Baggett will give the homily.

Honorary pallbearers will be Mr. Richard Cooper, Mr. Sam Corson, Mr. Charles Craft, Mr. Albert Dornbusch, Mr. Steve Golding, Mr. Bill Landrum, Mr. Jim Lundy, Dr. Charles Marascalco, Dr. Gerald Rankin, Mr. Charles Riles, Dr. James Valentine; all past members of the Current Events Sunday School Class; the employees of Ergon Trucking; and the physicians and staff of Jackson Oncology Associates.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to The Church of the Holy Trinity; to the Jinx P. Smith Scholarship Fund at Agape Montessori School; to Southern P.A.W.S. Rescue; or to the local animal shelter or humane society of your choice.