It all began on September 9, 1944, when a baby girl was born to Nehemiah Smith and Prince Ella Charles in Haskell, Oklahoma and was named Iretta. She attended school in Haskell and Muskogee, Oklahoma, graduating from Historic Manual Training High School in Muskogee.

Iretta accepted Christ at an early age and attended Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church faithfully for over 30 years.

Shortly after school, Iretta began working at Corning Glass Company as an inspector. She met and later married Ernest Maurice Chaplin, Sr., in 1961 and from this union, four children were born. This marriage was later dissolved and in 1971, she met and married William Wilson, Jr., and their union produced one child.

Iretta had a huge heart and loved to help people. She became a homemaker and took care of her late husband, William Wilson, Jr., from 1985 until his passing in 1998. In 2002, she became a foster parent to Anthony White, whom she cherished and cared for until her illness. She became foster mom of the year in 2012 and was not able to be acknowledged due to her short illness.

Mrs. Wilson loved to read and she loved to learn. In 1994, she made a brave decision to continue her education. She attended Connors State College and in 1997, she obtained an Associate of Applied Science Degree and an Associate of Arts Degree. She then matriculated to Northeastern State University, where he graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Psychology. she graduated from both colleges with Honors.

In her 67th year, Iretta Smith Wilson surrendered her soul on March 1, 2012. she touched the lives of many people with her smile and maintained her trademark calmness all the way to the end. She was preceded in death by her parents, Nehemiah Smith and Prince Ella Charles, her step-father, Eugene Charles, her granddaughter, Tanesha Chaplin, her husband, William Wilson, Jr., her ex-husband, Ernest Chaplin, Sr., and her brothers, Elijah and Millage Smith.

Iretta leaves her loved ones safely in the Arms of God; her children, Loretta [Arthur] Crutcher, Muskogee, Oklahoma, Ernest Chaplin, Jr., Muskogee, Oklahoma, TaMarcia [Ron] Woodard, Joanna [Chris] Marshall, all of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Timothy Wilson, Muskogee, Oklahoma; her step-children, William Wilson, III, Ivan Wilson, Anthony Wilson, DeAndra Wilson and Brenda Wilson; her brothers, George [Minnie] Smith, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Frank Smith, Kansas City, Missouri; her sisters, Jeanetta [Marlin] Brown, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Jackelyn Smith Fields, Loretta Smith Jackson and Beverly Smith Weathers; her in-laws, Sheila and James Thomas and Herman Wilson; a caravan of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, cousins and many friends.

The Farewell Tribute will commence on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 2:00 P.M. in the Greater Shiloh Missionary Baptist Church, 701 Altamont. Reverend Vanzelen G. Brown, Pastor, will Preside.

Burial will be on Monday, March 12, 2012 at 10:00 A.M. in the National Cemetery at Fort Gibson, Oklahoma.

You may visit Mrs. Wilson, as she slumbers in sweet repose at the funeral home on Friday from 10 AM until 6 PM.