Erma Lee (Wilson) Bush

“To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.”

Mrs. Erma Lee Wilson Bush was born to the late Mr. Thomas Wilson and Mrs. Mable Vaughn Wilson on December 2, 1935 in Alamance County, NC.

She was united in marriage to Herbert James Bush and to this union they were blessed with six daughters and three sons.

Erma was a dedicated member to First Baptist Church on Apple Street in Burlington under the leadership of Rev. Dr. Richard E. Styles.

Erma retired from Lucent Technologies (as known as AT&T). Erma will always be remembered for her many contributions to the Alamance-Burlington School system where she subbed for more than 20 years in different schools throughout the system. In addition to the many lives that she touched through her subbing, she is also known for her delicious cakes that have graced many tables within the community. Her most prized dessert that most people could be heard raving about were her “strawberry cupcakes.”  Erma’s life was a model of Love, Family, and Community that we all should strive to live by.

Erma was preceded in death by her husband, Herbert J. Bush; one son, Carl Anthony Bush; three brothers, SFC (Ret.) Henry E. Wilson Sr., Charlie T. Wilson, and Benny D. Wilson, and her only sister, Glenda Wilson Williams.

Left to cherish her memories are her two sons, Ricky Wilson (Brenda) of Mesquite, Texas and Thomas Bush (Sheila) of Burlington, NC, six daughters, Rhonda Phillips (Sam) of Rockingham, NC, Angela Gable (Tony) of Schwertz, Texas, Linda Totten of Burlington, NC, Yvette Chrisp (Eugene) of Gibsonville, NC, Wendy Bush of Burlington, NC, and Kim Mack (Bishop Sir Walter Mack) of Clemmons, NC, daughter-in-law, Judy Bush of Burlington,NC, three brothers, Rufus A. Wilson, Sr. (Dorothy) of Burlington, NC, Carlacy D. Wilson (Linda) of Landover, MD and Rev. Dr. Wayne E. Wilson (Tonja) of St. Petersburg, FL; one uncle Thomas Vaughn (Almary) of Burlington, and one aunt, Gladys Vaughn of Burlington, NC.  Bringing continuous joy into her life were her 15 grandchildren.  But, the pure joys of her heart were her 13 great-grandchildren who affectionately called her their “NaNa. “NaNa” loved her babies and her heart lit up when one of them entered the room. She leaves a host of nieces and nephews and other family members and friends who will always lovingly remember her.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Erma Lee (Wilson) Bush, please visit our floral store.