Wilma Lee Tankersley went to be with the Lord on June 4, 2026 surrounded by her family.

She is preceded in death by her parents Poley and Zennlee Patterson; brother John Henry Patterson; sister Phyllis Elsberry; and nephews Jason Wooten and Jeffrey Manis.

She is survived by her loving husband of 56 years Ted Tankersley; children Kimberley Cole(Marlon) and Johnny Manis(Karin); siblings Terry Patterson(Joyce), Linda Flood(Arnold), Helen Patterson, Rita Patterson, Connie Belue(Mack), and Diane Headrick(Earl); special friend Robert Manis; special granddaughter Misty Watson; lots of special nieces and nephews also survive.

She was sick for over 30 years but she was never bitter, her ministry became doctor’s offices where she was always telling of how great the Lord was. She was the best mother and also a nurse for 16 years. Employer and patients all loved her. Who didn’t love her?  There was always enough room at her table with enough food and love to go around. On her worst day she still put other people before herself. She loved going to church at Amazing Grace where she attended for 31 years. She was one of a kind with the love she shared and the way her salvation influenced other lives. There aren’t enough words to describe how wonderful she was.

A service to honor the life of Wilma Lee Tankersley will be held Saturday June 6, 2026 at 1pm in the chapel of Shawn Chapman Funeral Home. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 11am until the funeral hour at 1pm on June 6, 2026. Interment will be at Fairy Valley Cemetery.

Arrangements are made with integrity by Shawn Chapman Funeral Home Crematory and Monuments.