Apostle Dr. Yvonne Lee-Wilson dedicated years of her life to serving her community. Her hard work has touched the lives of countless people on the far South Side of Chicago.
“She was passionate about her religion and faith in God. Yvonne not only taught her religion but lived it,” explains Tina Sanders, Phalanx Family Services CEO.
Apostle Lee-Wilson came from a family of clergy members. She has actively been involved in ministry for 38 years — 25 of those as a senior pastor at Body of Christ Deliverance Ministries.
Dr. Lee-Wilson “was very passionate about helping people. She was a people person and a beloved member of the Phalanx Family Services. She was a member of the organization for four years,” Sanders continued. “Yvonne was their liaison between Phalanx and Chicago Public Schools (CPS). Her job was to connect families to Phalanx’s services.”
She worked in various positions within Phalanx during her time there. Prior to being their liaison, she worked as a contact tracer — the person who contacted individuals who have come in contact with a COVID-19 infected patient.
Her first job with Phalanx was to aid with a community census. Something that the community has been lacking for years. Inaccurate or incomplete census information has been a large setback in providing the community with the resources it needs. Dr. Lee-Wilson recognized this.
As part of the Far South Side Community Coalition, she helped develop the Quality of Life Plan for the community. Sanders added, “Yvonne was very active in that [project].”
The native Chicagoan is an alum of Chicago State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s degree. She furthered her education, earning a Master’s degree and later a Doctorate of Divinity from St. Michael’s Institution, according to Chicago Sun-Times.
She authored at least four books: “THE RISE AND FALL OF WOMEN IN MINISTRY” published on Nov. 7, 2008, “The Rise and Fall of Women in Ministry: The Journal” Sept. 19, 2016, “365-Day Devotional Journal for Prayer Warriors & Intercessors” Nov. 14, 2016, and “The Voice of the Apostolic Woman” Jan. 22, 2020.
Dr. Lee-Wilson has dedicated her entire life to serving those around her. Her work with both Phalanx Family Services and the Far South Side Community Coalition has brought countless pivotal resources into areas that are neglected by the city of Chicago. Her work is nothing short of heroic.
Prayers for the Pastors, Family, and Church
On Monday, February 28 at 11:15 p.m., Dr. Yvonne Lee-Wilsona and her husband Adelbert Wilson were in a fatal hit and run at 111th Street and Cottage Grove Avenue.
Many friends, family, and community members who knew the pastors have begun sending their prayers and condolences.
“I’m speechless…..this hurts. I knew Apostle Yvonne Lee-Wilson such an ANOINTED, Wise, WOG. I still hold on to the lessons learned in her classes on Prayer, Evangelism, and Deliverance and her words of Life spoken into me,” writes Facebook user Maderia Porter, she extends her heart and prayers for the family and the church.
“I cannot take it, this is way too much — feeling heartbroken,” says another Facebook user Sylvia Fedrick.
“I honor the man, Adelbert Wilson, who loved her, supported her, and protected her. Today [March 1] was their wedding anniversary and the celebration is in glory with Jesus. My beloved sister, you birthed me into the kingdom through prayer along with so many others. Your love and legacy will definitely live on. I love you immensely, you great woman of God!,” DrKen Thomas Lee, Yvonne’s younger brother, wrote in a social media post.
Several commenters extended their heartfelt prayers in response to Wanda Wright’s post:
Condolences are extended to [the] family and friends of Apostle Yvonne Lee Wilson. and her husband Adelbert Wilson. Both lost their earthly positions late last evening resulting from reckless automobile homicide.
Apostle Wilson was a valiant defender of God, Goodness, and Glory and faithful in [the] community alongside Joyce Chapman, CEO of Far South Community Action Council! No details of any sort are available at the moment. Please lift the Wilson family in prayer. Keep your arms around Joyce Chapman as well, Together they have fought relentlessly for South Side, Schools, businesses, housing, and employment for years!
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 (NIV):
Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.
DrKen Thomas Lee declared she is irreplaceable. He recalls her “always being beside me throughout thick and thin.” They will no longer share daily scripture affirmations and prayers. He promises his sister that “he took it all in and it will not be wasted,” in a social media post.
“Phalanx people are really going to miss her. She is going to be missed by the community and her shoes are going to be really hard to fill,” Tina Sanders concluded.
A Hit-and-Run Driver Took Their Lives
The collision in Chicago’s Far South Side caused the car to flip onto its side and crash into a bus shelter. Police arrived at the scene shortly after 11:15 p.m. and found the couple inside their red SUV, reports Chicago Police. The impact of their vehicle shattered the shelter’s walls; accident photos show its roof on the road next to the SUV.
They had to be extricated from their car and transported to local hospitals in critical condition. Apostle Lee-Wilson was taken to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn. Retired Pastor Wilson was transported to the University of Chicago Medical in Hyde Park. Sadly, both later died.
Chicago Police also found a white vehicle near the pastors’ SUV. However, “it is not clear if the hit and run driver was in it,” according to ABC News. The Major Accident Investigation Unit encourages anyone who may have witnessed the fatal hit-and-run crash or has information to contact the Chicago Police Department.
Dr. Lee-Wilson, a pillar of her community, has three daughters, eight grandchildren, five great-grandchildren. Her family, church, and community members mourn her death. She would have celebrated her 38th anniversary with her husband Adelbert Wilson on March 1, 2022.
Written by Cathy Milne-Ware
Sources:
ABC NEWS 7: Chicago husband and wife killed in Pullman hit-and-run crash: ‘They died together;’ by Jessica D’Onofrio and Ravi Baichwal
Chicago Sun-Times: ‘They were extremely beautiful people.’ Well-known pastor and husband killed in Pullman hit-and-run
CBS Chicago News: Police Search For Driver Who Killed Chicago Pastors Dr. Yvonne Lee Wilson And Adelbert Wilson In Car Crash; by Suzanne Le Mignot
WGN Chicago: Married pastors killed in Pullman hit-and-run crash; by Jewell Hillery and Rob Sneed
BibleGateway: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 New International Version
Featured and Top by Kelly Sikkema Image Courtesy of Unsplash – Creative Commons License
Inset Images Courtesy of TNS Staff Photographers
