United States Army Sgt. 1st Class James Levon Wilkinson, age 19, died in action while serving  in South Korea in 1950. He was born in Bowdon on July 30, 1931, to the late Rev. Isaac Wilkinson, Sr. and the late Essie Wingo Wilkinson. In addition to his parents he is preceded in death by two brothers, Isaac Wilkinson, Jr. and Virgil Wilkinson and one sister, Odessa Lancaster.

James was a member of George Company, 2nd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division.  He was originally reported missing in action along the Naktong River in September 1950 and presumed dead in 1953.  In 1951, the Army started to excavate remains from the area's United Nations Military Cemetery Tanggok.  After being inspected and declared unidentifiable, the body was sent with others to be buried in the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii. Sgt. Wilkinson was identified as part of an effort by the U.S. Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency which used DNA analysis and dental records to make positive identifications.

Survivors include, two sisters, Pauline Wilkinson Wood of Buchanan and Rachel Wilkinson Almond of Temple and numerous nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at 2:00 PM from Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery with Reverend Ronald Carroll officiating. Full Military honors will be rendered by the United States Army.

Hutcheson's Memorial Chapel & Crematory of Buchanan is honored to serve the Wilkinson family.