RELIGION: Former Lockport pastor dies in Georgia

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July 20, 2009

Staff Reports The Niagara Gazette Mon Jul 20, 2009, 06:03 PM EDT

Longtime Lockport pastor Margaret Wilson died July 15 at DeKalb Medical Center in Georgia.

Born May 8, 1925, in Union Springs, Ala., she began preaching as a child and came to Lockport with her husband, Cliff Wilson, where she became pastor of the Historic Old Christ Church at Market and Vine streets, later known as the House of God Church.

Elder Margaret, as she was known around Lockport, served in the community for 52 years. She was given the key to the City of Lockport five times, along with numerous other awards.

Probably best known for her free holiday dinners for the needy, Wilson was the first African American woman Pentecostal preacher in the city. She is listed in the book “Who’s Who” and was also in Tyler Perry’s movie “Diary Of A Mad Black Woman.”

After the death of her husband, Wilson relocated with her daughters to Atlanta, where for the past 12 years she was a host of the radio program “Prayer Clinic.” Family members said she always ended the program with the encouraging words: “It is so nice to be nice.”

Wilson is survived by her daughters, evangelist Sandi (T.E.) Collins, Karen (Daniel) Harris and Nora Wilson Reed; two sons, Cliff Wilson and the late Apostle William Wilson; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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