OBITUARY

Ken WIlmesherr passed away peacefully at home with his family on January 28, 2026.

He had been under great care by Autumn View Hospice for the last year due to heart disease . During this time, he also had wonderful physical therapy care given by Larry Dickerson,

Ken was born on February 14, 1949 to Vonelle (Price) WIlmesherr and Herbert WIlmesherr in McComb, Mississippi.

He attended Belhaven College (now University) in Jackson. During the summers of his college career he worked at The Montreat Presbyterian Conference Center in North Carolina. It was here that he met his wife, Sandra Shea WIlmesherr. They were married for 55 years.  After their wedding, they moved to Richmond Virginia where Ken attended Union Theological Seminary.

He was an ordained minister in the PCUSA church. He served churches in Virginia, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, and Pennsylvania for over 35 years .

Ken loved his family with a great love; Wendy (David) Coward, Matt (Meg ) WIlmesherr and Drew (Emily) WIlmesherr, six grandchildren, and soon to arrive twin great grandchildren.

He leaves behind a brother, Ed WIlmesherr. He has three sisters in laws, Cathie Frechen, Beth Blandford, and Charlotte Shea ,and one brother in law, Bob Blandford, as well as many nieces and nephews from both sides of his family.

In addition to his love for his family he loved his church family everywhere he served. He cared with an extravagant heart. He worked in the tobacco fields to help raise funds for a Sunday School wing. He built three preschools and one after school program. He initiated a weekend program that brought neighborhood kids in for a Friday night movie and dinner and then brought those same kids back on Sunday morning for breakfast and Sunday School. While at Grace Presbyterian in Panama City, Fla, he and friends, Patti and John McIroy from Scotland, started The Annual Scottish Festival, which is now a city-wide event.

He will be missed, his love, his sense of humor, his story telling of Boudreaux (a Louisiana folk hero) made people believe Boudreaux was real. He could also rap most of the Old Testament Stories. He loved music and learning of everything. He was a fierce Trivial Pursuit player.

We will celebrate Ken WIlmesherr on Saturday February 28th at 2pm. at theFirst Presbyterian Church of Monroe GA, 500 Breedlove Drive. Rev, Dr, Bruce McRae, assisted by Rev, Erin Morgan will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the Thornwell Children’s Home or FISH a ministry to the citizens of Monroe. You may write a check to FPC of Monroe and designate the charity on the memo line.