Obituary for Shirley Wilkinson (Lanman)
Shirley Lanman Wilkinson, 83, of Louisville, passed away Sunday, November 25, 2018.
Mrs. Wilkinson, a retired music educator and choral director for over four decades with the Jefferson County Public Schools and University of Louisville School of Music, had devoted her entire life to the growth and encouragement of many students through music education. She originated the Madrigal Singers and Dinners at Westport High School, Ballard High School, and the University of Louisville. Under her direction, the Ballard High School Choir won its first International Gold Medal in 1989 in a choral competition with 68 other choirs from around the world. At the University of Louisville, she was the conductor of the University Singers who, in addition to local performances, presented the “Shaker Worship Service” in Shakertown at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky several years. She was a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association for which she conducted the first performance of the Kentucky All- State Men’s Chorus in the Whitney Hall Auditorium of the Kentucky Center for the Arts; and served as the State Choral Chairperson for the Secondary Schools and for College and Universities. She received the Kentucky Music Educators Outstanding Secondary Music Teacher Award. She was a member of the American Choral Directors Association, and the Kentucky Choral Directors Association, from which she received the Robert K. Baar Choral Excellence Award. She was a member of the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and the Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association. She was a graduate of the University of Evansville and Indiana University. She was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity; the Friends of the School of Music at the University of Louisville; the Louisville Area Daylily Society; and Broadway Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hewitt T. Wilkinson; sisters, Mary Jane Denney and Carolyn Sue Orwig; one brother, William L. Lanman; and a daughter-in-law, Tessica Wilkinson.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Wilkinson-Gudgel (Boyd); her sons, Hewitt “Chip” Wilkinson, William H. Wilkinson (Nancy) and John M. Wilkinson; her brother, David A. Lanman (Rhoda); 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the staff at Belmont Village, the Hosparus Team, and devoted family friend, Donna, for their dedication and compassionate care.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on December 3, 2018 at her church, Broadway Baptist Church, 4000 Brownsboro Road, with burial to follow in Resthaven. Visitation will be from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Broadway Baptist Church.
Mrs. Wilkinson, a retired music educator and choral director for over four decades with the Jefferson County Public Schools and University of Louisville School of Music, had devoted her entire life to the growth and encouragement of many students through music education. She originated the Madrigal Singers and Dinners at Westport High School, Ballard High School, and the University of Louisville. Under her direction, the Ballard High School Choir won its first International Gold Medal in 1989 in a choral competition with 68 other choirs from around the world. At the University of Louisville, she was the conductor of the University Singers who, in addition to local performances, presented the “Shaker Worship Service” in Shakertown at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky several years. She was a member of the Kentucky Music Educators Association for which she conducted the first performance of the Kentucky All- State Men’s Chorus in the Whitney Hall Auditorium of the Kentucky Center for the Arts; and served as the State Choral Chairperson for the Secondary Schools and for College and Universities. She received the Kentucky Music Educators Outstanding Secondary Music Teacher Award. She was a member of the American Choral Directors Association, and the Kentucky Choral Directors Association, from which she received the Robert K. Baar Choral Excellence Award. She was a member of the Kentucky Retired Teachers Association and the Jefferson County Retired Teachers Association. She was a graduate of the University of Evansville and Indiana University. She was a member of the Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity; the Friends of the School of Music at the University of Louisville; the Louisville Area Daylily Society; and Broadway Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hewitt T. Wilkinson; sisters, Mary Jane Denney and Carolyn Sue Orwig; one brother, William L. Lanman; and a daughter-in-law, Tessica Wilkinson.
She is survived by her daughter, Jennifer Wilkinson-Gudgel (Boyd); her sons, Hewitt “Chip” Wilkinson, William H. Wilkinson (Nancy) and John M. Wilkinson; her brother, David A. Lanman (Rhoda); 14 grandchildren; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Her family would like to express their sincere gratitude to all the staff at Belmont Village, the Hosparus Team, and devoted family friend, Donna, for their dedication and compassionate care.
Funeral Services will be conducted at 11:00 a.m. on December 3, 2018 at her church, Broadway Baptist Church, 4000 Brownsboro Road, with burial to follow in Resthaven. Visitation will be from 2:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Sunday, December 2, 2018 at Highlands Funeral Home, 3331 Taylorsville Rd.
Expressions of sympathy may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association or to Broadway Baptist Church.