John Marshall Wilson

John Marshall Wilson, 67, a resident of Luverne, Alabama, passed away unexpectedly at Baptist Medical Center East in Montgomery on Thursday, October 23rd, 2025, while surrounded by his family. Funeral services for John will be held at 2 PM on Monday, October 27th, at First Baptist Church of Luverne with Brother Clay Crum officiating. Interment will follow in Luverne Emmaus Cemetery with Turners Funeral Home of Luverne directing. The family will receive friends at the church on Monday from 12:30 - 2 PM.

John was the heart and soul of Super Foods. His family bought the store in 1971 and, except while away for school, John worked there for the rest of his life. He earned his Bachelor's in Business from Samford University in Birmingham and was a member of Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. While there, he loved being part of the BSU Choir and touring all over Europe with the Continental Singers...which included learning how seriously to take their bus getting a little too close to the Soviet Union while in Poland during the Cold War! Throughout his life, John was always a vital & integral part of his community. He never failed to serve that community, whether it was with the Luverne Rotary Club, where he not only served as District Governor in 2001-2002 but was also considered a "Rotary Legend," or as a deacon with First Baptist Church of Luverne. He was also a member of the Alabama Grocers Association, as well as being a long-time board member and one-time chairman, who honored him as their 2012 Retailer of the Year. He was always and without fail generous with his community as he donated to educational programs in both Crenshaw and Butler counties as well as DHR, local law enforcement, the Luverne Public Library, and many, many more. That fierce generosity and love for the place he called home was why the Chamber of Commerce chose him as their 2014 Citizen of the Year.

John suffered from chronic health issues for much of his life, but he was a true inspiration for how he never allowed that to keep him down. He showed up for work every day and was the epitome of what a good citizen and human looks like. In his free time, he loved hunting and fishing, traveling, and his favorite classic tv shows like Murder, She Wrote and The Andy Griffith Show. He was also a big fan of American History, especially that of our military. It should come as no surprise however that his love of music stayed with him throughout his life. Like most Southerners, he certainly loved his country music, especially his "country girlfriend" Carrie Underwood, but nothing spoke to this tenor's heart like musical theater. From seeing Chorus Line, Chicago, & numerous others in the theater or singing along with Hugh Jackman's The Greatest Showman at home or in the car, John was there for all of it.

Never doubt that John was the OG Girl Dad! Bless him, a house full of women would drive most men crazy, but not him. Oh no, he absolutely loved every second of it, even when they all tried to manage his life for him...as we women "might" tend to do! No doubt they are a big part of why he always kept such a huge, open heart for everyone. He enjoyed every moment working with the employees who became part of his big extended family. That family including his customers, especially the older ladies who were always his best customers. And who would be surprised by how much both his employees and customers loved him back? With his generous, kind heart who never failed to be one of the friendliest people you'd ever meet. He was also just a big goofball who appreciated all different kinds of humor. Above all, he was a devoted husband, father, and PopPop who loved his family like they were worth more than all the legendary gold in Fort Knox because he knew they most certainly were. There was nothing he enjoyed more than spending time with them, especially during the holidays. His presence always loomed large within his family and words cannot express how much he will be sorely missed by them. All of Luverne mourns with them as John will continue to be remembered for his selfless love and the generosity of his oversized heart.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John "Jimmy" Edmon & Alyce Pearl Marshall Wilson. He is survived by his beloved wife of 40 years, Lillian Kelley Wilson; their daughters, Heather Marie Wilson, Kelley Nicole Wilson-Derby (Anthony), Lauren Ashley (Nick) Atkinson, and Savannah Grace Wilson (Beau) Spivey; grandchildren, Alyce Mae Wilson-Derby, Owen Wilson Atkinson, Madison Pearl Atkinson, Taytum Jeffery Spivey, Wrenlee-Kate Marie Spivey (due to make her arrival in December), Willow Grace Spivey, Cooper Reid Spivey; and a host of extended family members, friends, and members of the Super Foods Family.

Active pallbearers will be Jimmy Morgan, Kyle Richburg, Larry Robinson, Glenn Schneider, Merrill Sport, and Steve Sanders. Serving as honorary pallbearers will be David Smyth, the deacons of First Baptist Church, and the former members of the Luverne Rotary Club.

In his Citizen of the Year speech, John explained why he loved his home so much: "I've traveled across the United States, through Europe...and of all the places I've been, I've yet to be to any place that is better, or stands out better, than Crenshaw County." That love is the tremendous legacy he will always be remembered and treasured for.