Rev. Claude Eli Wiltshire died at his home in Carrollton, MS, on July 12, 2018 at the age of 80. The son of Eli Eugene Wiltshire and Katherine Broome Wiltshire, he was born on January 31, 1938. He was one of 9 children. He graduated from J. Z. George High School and played football on the championship team in the Cotton Bowl his senior year.
He was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in January 1958 at Providence Baptist Church and preached his first sermon at the age of 17. He attended Mississippi College, Washington Bible College, Capital Bible Seminary and Luther Rice Seminary. He pastored churches in the Washington D.C. area, and in Mississippi in Carroll, Leflore, Grenada, and Tallahatchie counties. He held many revivals and had a radio program for 6 years and several television programs.
He served in the U.S. Air Force for 4 years and was stationed at Misawa, Japan for 3 years. While there, he did mission work and helped establish a mission off base. He worked for the Town of Carrollton for 26 years as the water operator. He married Patricia Ann Heffner, daughter of the late Hubert and Delma Heffner, in 1970. They have been married 48 years.
He is survived by his wife, Patricia Ann Heffner Wiltshire of Carrollton, MS, and one son, Troy Eli Wiltshire and his wife Amanda, and one granddaughter, the apple of his eye, Kaylyn Rose Wiltshire, all of Carrollton, MS. Other survivors include one sister, Roxie Wiltshire Kinney of Muskegon, Michigan, and one brother, Tom D. Wiltshire of Carrollton, MS.
Bro. Eddie Carpenter and Bro. Keith Ramage will officiate the service. Pallbearers are Donnie Wiltshire, Danny Henson, Thomas Horne, Michael Abney, Jimmy Harrell, and Steve Slocum. Honorary pallbearers are John Pope, Harmon Stanford, and Greg Wiltshire.
Visitation will be 3 p.m. until 5 p.m. at Providence Baptist Church in Carrollton, MS, on Sunday, July 15, 2018 and Monday, July 16, 2018 beginning at 10 a.m. until service time at 11 a.m. at the church. Burial will be in Providence Baptist Church Cemetery with military rites by the Keesler-Hamrick-Gillespie American Legion Post 29 Honor Guard.
Williams & Lord Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.