Tony Lewis Wilson

The thought comes easy that somewhere today Tony Lewis Wilson is trading hot jazz licks with the angel Gabriel on their respective horns.

Tony Wilson, a retired computer technician and professional-level musician, died peacefully at home May 8, completing a well-lived life of integrity, solid friendships and faith.

He was a large man with a large heart and a trumpeter's lip.

Tony was born Nov. 12, 1945, into a world newly at peace. He was a native of Memphis TN, having graduated from Whitehaven High School in 1964. While still in high school, he joined the Navy Reserve under an agreement that if he served four years in the reserves he only owed the nation two years of active duty.

He later opted to commit to four years of active duty so that he could attend the Navy School of music in Norfolk VA. He spent his Navy years playing horn for his country.

His musical journey started at age 11 when he began taking piano lessons. And although in his teen years he branched off into playing trumpet, he never lost his love of the keyboard, at which he excelled. He played classical, jazz, pop and more on piano in formal and informal settings.

In high school Tony played in the band and was drum major his senior year. Once after receiving a less-than-stellar grade in algebra, his mother threatened to take him out of the band if his algebra did not improve. The next report card showed an A in that subject.

Tony mustered out of the Navy in 1969 and began a career in the emerging field of digital information. For decades he worked in the computer field, writing code and programming and making computers do stuff they didn't know they could do.

By the time he came out of the Navy, his family had transferred to Birmingham AL. That is where he met Brenda Vines, with whom he would share nearly 54 years of marriage. Tony and Brenda were members of Hunter Street Baptist Church, where he played trumpet in the church orchestra. Maybe that's where Gabriel took note of his skills.

Tony is survived by his wife, his brother, Robert Wilson and wife Leigh Stapleton Wilson, four cousins, his brother- and sister-in-law, Erskine Pickens and Patty Vines Pickens, and three nephews.

Services are at 11 a.m. Friday, May 15, 2021, at Currie Jefferson Funeral Home, 2701 John Hawkins Parkway, Hoover AL. Visitation is at 10 a.m. with a graveside service to follow the indoor service.