Mr. Wildor Washington Sr.

Wildor Washington Sr. was born in 1945, in Money, Mississippi, to Len and Anna Washington, two strong pillars in their community. At a young age, his family relocated to Kansas City, Kansas, after his father was driven out of town by the Ku Klux Klan. This painful moment became the foundation of Wildor’s strength, motivation, and lifelong fight for justice. In Kansas City, he attended Grant Elementary School, Northeast Junior High, and the historic Sumner High School landmarks of strength and pride in the Black community prior to integration. While still in high school, he worked alongside his father in the family business, Washington’s Auto Repair, becoming a Ford and GM certified technician for transmissions and motors at an impressively young age. After high school, Wildor proudly served in the United States military for seven years, stationed in Korea, Hawaii, Texas, and New Jersey. He earned numerous medals and awards, achieving the rank of Sergeant and serving as Head of Race Relations while in Hawaii, a role that reflected his lifelong commitment to fairness and equality. During his military years, Wildor married Evelyn Gill, his childhood neighbor from Kansas City, and together they welcomed four children: Wildor Jr., Siti, Jamila, and Jabari. He later married Linda, with whom he had a daughter, Khadija. He eventually married again, to Brenda Jones, whose love and faith led him to deepen his relationship with Christ through Christ Church of the Jesus Hour, under the mentorship of Pastor Davis. At that time, Wildor became a devout man of God and a dedicated deacon. Wildor’s adult life reflected his entrepreneurial spirit and determination. Building on lessons learned in the family auto repair shop, he opened several businesses, including Diversified Recovery, a collection agency, and Genesis Financial, his own mortgage company, among other ventures. He was a man of discipline, purpose, and precision leaving behind a legacy of hard work, resilience, and self-determination. At the remarkable age of 74, Wildor returned to school, fulfilling a lifelong dream to further his education. He completed both a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in Theology and Biblical Counseling. His dedication to education was as steadfast as his faith he always sought to know more, to understand more, and to grow his mind and spirit. His pursuit of wisdom and knowledge was a defining part of his character. Beyond his work and education, Wildor had a deep and abiding love for music. He could often be found listening to the sounds of old jazz, rhythm and blues, and soul from the 1950s through the 1970s. The music of his youth became the soundtrack of his reflections, and he often spoke of how rich and meaningful those times were. Music for him was more than entertainment it was memory, culture, and resistance. Wildor was also a fierce advocate for civil rights and social justice. His voice carried both passion and principle, speaking against injustice wherever he saw it. He loved his people deeply, celebrating Blackness, Black culture, and Pan-Africanism. His pride in his heritage and his belief in unity and empowerment was unwavering and deeply felt by all who knew him. Wildor was preceded in heaven by his father, Lynn Washington; his mother, Anna Washington; his sister, Pearl L. Williams; his sister, Grace L. Harris; and sister, Billie Faye Lewis. He leaves behind five children, Wildor “Jun” Washington, Jr.; Siti Hammonds; Jamila Phelts (John); Khadija Washington; and Jabari Washington (Mikila); sixteen grandchildren, Aaron, Victoria (Tori), Kenyon, Bobbie, Alex, Malik, Amara, Antonie, Nikila, Jasira, Malkia, John Alpha, Gabrielle, Jacob, Zya, Hezekiah; six great-grandchildren, his sister, Lillian Washington; his brother, Gary Washington; two nieces, (Aba Harris; and Debbie Allen), two nephews, (Bobby Williams; and Jerry Parker), and countless extended family and friends who will honor his memory. Wildor Washington Sr. lived a life full of purpose, faith, music, education and culture. He walked with strength, stood for what was right, and loved deeply. His journey is a reminder of the power of perseverance, the beauty of culture, the importance of learning, and the strength of legacy. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for the love. Thank you for the path you paved. Funeral services will be held on Saturday September 6, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at Church of the Harvest – Olathe 14841 S. Blackbob Road Olathe, KS 66062. Interment Memorial Park Sunset Cemetery. No visitation. Arrangements entrusted to Lawrence A. Jones & Sons Funeral Chapels. Condolences may be shared on our website lawrenceajones.com.

Mr. Wildor Washington Sr.

January 31, 1945 - August 29, 2025