The hymn "I'll Fly Away" concluded the memorial service in the Davidson, N.C. church as family members, friends and former teammates reflected upon the life of Arthur John Wilson III - "Jack" to all of us.
"Some glad morning when this life is o'er, I'll fly away. To that home on God's celestial shore, I'll fly away."
Clif CleavelandThousands of people whose lives Jack influenced were unable to attend.
A remarkable sprinter and quarterback at his Raleigh, N.C., high school, Jack starred as both running back and defensive back at Duke University, graduating in 1961. Drafted by the Cleveland Browns, he chose instead to enter seminary at Duke, graduating into the Methodist ministry.
Assignments to a North Carolina parish and the Duke Chapel were followed by six years as an assistant chaplain at West Point during the height of the Vietnam War. He had great respect for the cadets, many of whom he advised; he revered the Cadet Prayer (www.usma.edu/chaplain/SitePages/Cadet Prayer/aspx). A two-year fellowship in pastoral counseling at St. Elizabeth's Psychiatric Hospital in Washington, D.C., preceded his family's move to Chattanooga in 1973.
Jack assumed the challenging role of chaplain and pastoral counselor at Moccasin Bend Psychiatric Hospital. Over the many years of this ministry, Jack encountered men and women whose lives were lived in the shadows. They might be crushed by addictions, severe depression or psychoses. Some patients might be hospitalized for brief intervals; others were there for the duration of Jack's service.
As his physician and friend, I marveled at his optimism and good humor in this difficult calling. Whenever possible, Jack engaged the families of patients in their care. He believed that the troubles of a patient could not be understood without first-hand knowledge of the home and family from which she came.
He conducted individual and group counseling sessions, working to put lives back together. In Jack's view, there was no such thing as a hopeless case. I remember him telling me once that it was often "fourth down and long yardage" for many of his patients. His undiminished goal was for a first down for each person.
These were the men and women who were not present at Jack's memorial service. Perhaps they could not recall the name of the man who gave them hope. The continued burdens of illness may have limited their travel.
Outside his official duties, Jack counseled couples in complex, stressful relationships. He shared his insights into families in seminars that he conducted in area churches.
In his early years, Jack lost his father. The love and support embodied in his family were fundamental to his life and to his vision of helping others. His children recalled sailing with him, singing with him as he played guitar and anticipating his over-the-top celebrations of their birthdays. This love spilled over into his therapeutic sessions.
In his final years, Jack confronted a steadily worsening neurological illness. Visiting him in the North Carolina home to which he had returned, I found a man of courage and abiding good humor who wanted to talk about Duke's improving football fortunes. For Jack, the next season would always be the best.
Many years ago, a frail, elderly man told me that some days he needed "propping up on his leaning side." These words returned to me two weeks ago as I listened to the tributes and loving reminiscences of Jack Wilson as they were delivered in the Davidson Methodist Church.
He propped up so many of us on our leaning sides.
Contact Clif Cleaveland at ccleaveland@timesfreepress.com.