Bernard J. Wilson, (70), of Brentwood, Tennessee, fell asleep in the Lord on June 14, 2023, in Nashville, TN.
Bernie was born in Preston, England to William Joseph Wilson and Jenny Josephine Bowman on Jan 19, 1953. He married Diane Wilson on Feb 12, 1977, at the San Fernando Mission in Granada Hills. He served in the United States Army. For over 30 years, Bernie worked for the Los Angeles law enforcement; 26 of those years were spent at the Los Angeles International Airport Police Department. He quickly rose through the ranks which culminated in his becoming the Chief of Police. He was active in Civil Air Patrol for over 50 years. His proudest achievement was when he was accorded a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society.
Bernie was a hard-working servant of the Orthodox Church in America and a faithful subdeacon in the OCA for many years. His long experience as Chief in the Los Angeles Airport Police Department, coupled with his dedication to the Church and his untiring concern for the people for whom he had responsibility, made him a natural candidate for a most difficult task in the Church: investigation of sexual misconduct allegations made against clergy and lay leaders. He was called to this service by the OCA in 2011, exercising his high degree of professional skills with wisdom, discernment, and respect for others, whether alleged victim or alleged respondent.
In addition to involvement in investigation of misconduct allegations, he also served for ten years on the OCA Sexual Misconduct Policy Advisory Committee. The Committee’s charter calls for recommendation of processes and policies to prevent, to the greatest extent possible, cases of sexual misconduct. He was recently appointed the Coordinator of the OCA’s Office of Review of Sexual Misconduct Allegations (ORSMA). His voice was unfailingly logical, well-reasoned, and steadfast, while remaining compassionate, caring, and loving towards all the vulnerable “little ones” whom Jesus cautioned us in the strongest terms not to offend (Matt 18:6).
Bernie is preceded in death by his son, Martin; parents, William and Jenny Wilson; in-laws, Rosemary and Robert Peat; brothers-in-law, Jeff Cox, Randal and Richard Peat, and Melvin Sheldon.
Bernie is survived by his wife, Diane of 46 years; his 3 children, Victoria, Nicholas, and Stephen; siblings Robert Wilson (Cheryl) and Jennifer Cox; nieces, Sarah and Edith; nephews, William, Patrick, Robert, Richard, and Michael; cousins both in England and Ireland, as well as numerous God children. He will be greatly missed.
May Bernie’s memory be eternal!