Wesley Waldrop Williamson
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Wesley Waldrop Williamson, 27, was born July 7, 1993, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and passed away Thursday, January 21, at his home in Olive Branch, Mississippi. He is survived by his parents, Jane and Wayne Williamson, Sister and Brother-in-Law, Shannon and Jerry McBride, Grandmother Geneva Williamson, Aunt and Uncle Cathy and Alan Doyle, Cousins James Alan Doyle, Anna and Stuart Doyle, Liam and Mae Frances, Great Aunt Dianne Nelson, Great Aunt Mary Beth Nelson, Great Uncle and Aunt Shirley and Jack Cole, Cousins, Floy, Jeff, and Elizabeth Cole, and Janet, Terry, and Cole Edwards, and his Godfather David Jackson. He was preceded in death by his Grandparents Lexie and Bud Waldrop and Wesley Williamson. Wesley attended SBEC from K-3 through the twelfth grade, graduating in 2012. At SBEC, he fell in love with theater and began a career in acting that continued throughout his college years and beyond. Wesley found a home at many local theaters including Desoto Family Theater, Panola Playhouse, Kudzu Playhouse, Harrell Theater, and Theater Memphis. He acted in productions including Meet Me In St. Louis, Fiddler on the Roof, The Foreigner, Mamma Mia!, Beauty and the Beast, Oklahoma, Wizard of Oz, Hello Dolly, Music Man, and countless others. Wesley taught Drama Camps at Desoto Family Theater as well as Panola Playhouse. In addition to acting, Wesley also developed a love of directing. He received multiple "Allie" awards for outstanding performances and directing. In the summer of 2015, he was a guest Teaching Artist at Appel Farm Arts & Music Center in New Jersey. Wesley received an Associate of Arts degree from Northwest Mississippi Community College in May 2015. He also attended Ole Miss and University of Southern Mississippi, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Acting and Performance in December 2017. Wesley was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as Jane and Wayne learned before he was born that he had a congenital heart defect. Wesley had his first heart surgery at five days old, another at six months, and another at two years old. Anyone who knows Wesley will agree that no health condition was going to impact his happiness, his zest for life, or his adventurous spirit. Although his heart defect ultimately shortened his life, it never affected his love of family, friends, and Jesus. A friend described Wesley this way - "Wesley boldly pursued his passions, chose happiness in all he did, and glorified God with his words and his actions. A friend to all, Wesley treated everyone he met with kindness and acceptance, making sure friends and strangers alike knew that they mattered. He showed the world the importance of being true to oneself." A Celebration of Life Service was held at 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 26, at Getwell Church in Southaven, Mississippi. The family received friends between 10:30 am and 12:30 pm. Seating did follow Covid guidelines and masks were required. Colorful clothing was encouraged to celebrate Wesley's life. The service was recorded and can be viewed on Getwell Church's youtube channel. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to www.ACHAheart.org (an organization that does congenital heart defect research), Northwest Mississippi Community Foundation Wesley Waldrop Williamson Theater Scholarship (4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, Mississippi 38668), or a local community theater of your choice.