John Wilkerson was born on July 4, 1834 in Wrightsboro.  He attended college at Athens, GA and Auburn, AL with the intent of becoming a doctor.  On November 4, 1860, he married Martha Alford, they had four children.   But, duty called, and Wilkerson enlisted with Walker Light Artillery which became part of Company F of the 12th Georgia Battalion in May, 1862. He was badly wounded in the left leg at Hatcher’s Run, VA, in 1865 and sent to a Richmond hospital to recover.  Wilkerson joined the Methodist Church in 1872, under the guidance of Reverend W.T. Hamilton.  He served for six years as the Commander for the McDuffie County Camp No. 823, United Confederate Veterans before his death in 1912.

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