Edwin Jerome Vick, 73, of Wilson, (Nash County) NC, died Wednesday, July 26, 2023. He was born September 13, 1949 in Wilson.
He is survived by his wife, Diane Vick Vick; daughter, Charlotte Vick (partner, Ken Sikes) and son, Linwood Vick (Tammy) all of Wilson; grandchildren, Hannah Jones (Ethan), Grayson Ferrell (fiancé, James Wells), Zeke and Eli Ferrell and Emma and Wood Vick; great-grandchildren, Altas and Oliver Jones; brothers-in-law, Robert Vick (Martha) and Dennis Vick (Teresa) and sister-in-law, Sherry Vick; very special caregivers, Cindy Roberts, JoAnne Whitley, Barbara Taybron, Josephine Howard, Theretha Clay, Jeanette Jones and Leroy Stokes.
Jerome was preceded in death by his parents, Jerome Beacham Vick and Susan Gardner Vick; brother, Lenna “Lennie” Vick.
A Celebration of Life Service will be on Saturday, August 5th, 10:00 AM, at Vick Family Farms, 11124 Christian Rd, Wilson. Visitation will follow at the farm from 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM.
Jerome was a “leader of leaders”. His voice for the Agriculture Industry was strong. Jerome and his wife, Diane, were the founders of Vick Family Farms BB #:172128 in 1975 and grew a successful operation from 25 acres to over 9,000 in nearly 50 years. He graduated from Bailey High School in 1967 and then Wayne Community College where he received an Associate in Applied Science Degree in Soil Conservation.
Jerome served 6 years in the US Marine Corps Reserves and later began his career at Farmers Cotton Oil Co. and Production Credit Co. He became a leader in both the tobacco and sweet potato industries worldwide and was known for his giving nature and his quick-witted responses.
He was a longtime supporter of the Wilson County Livestock Show and Sale, the OIC Food Drives, the Wilson Tobs Baseball, a current member of the Wilmed Healthcare Foundation, the Barton College Board of Trustees and Golden Leaf Foundation. A founding member and past President of the NC Sweet Potato Commission Board of Directors and the NC Tobacco Growers Association, a charter member and past President of The Wilson County Young Farmers, United Tobacco Co., and the Wilson Elks Lodge. He was a leading and founding contributor to the NC State Plant Science Building and Covington Endowment for Sweet Potato Research.
Some of his many awards that were special to him include the Wilson County Outstanding Young Farmer, NC Soil Conservation Farm Family, NC Tobacco Growers Farm Family, Wilson C.A.R.E.S. award, Wilson-Barton Partnership Leadership Award, City of Wilson Humanitarian of the Year, NC Outstanding Young Farmer, NC Tobacco Farm Life Museum Excellence in Agriculture, Wilson County Outstanding Tree Farmer, The Tobacco “Great” award, the Order of the Roundtable for Greenfield School, and most recently was presented with the most prestigious Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award.
He was a member of New Hope Missionary Baptist Church.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the “Jerome and Diane Vick Family Scholarship”. Please make your check payable to the NC Agricultural Foundation and include a note that your gift is for the scholarship in memory of Jerome Vick. Mail to NC State Campus Box 7645, Raleigh NC 27695. Gifts may also be made securely online at go.ncsu.edu/jerome-vick-memorial
The family will forever be grateful to Dr. Paul Perez-Navarro and Dr. Douglas Brewer for their kindness and compassionate care.
Arrangements by Wilson Memorial Service, 2811 Fieldstream Dr N, Wilson, NC 27896; (252) 237-7171; www.wilsonmemorialservice.com
Charlotte Vick, a partner in Vick Family Farms, and Jerome’s daughter shared this message on social media:
“There is so much sadness I feel yet so much I am proud of and thankful for. How can you be sad knowing the wonderful impact your dad had on this world. Not just the community, not just the Ag Industry in this country but all across the world. I’ve heard him say how can it be that just a little farmer from Nash County have accomplished so much?
“He would say he started out with nothing and has most of it left. He’d tell you first it was the good Lord blessing him. He’d tell you 2nd was our mama and his sidekick for 53 years that kept him in line and kept pushing forward with every challenge. She’s the real hero. She works so hard and allowed him to be center stage as she supported him. And he’d tell you that you spell success WORK. He’d tell you he raised a good farmer in Lyn and how blessed he was to watch him farm and take on challenges in farming today.”
