VIRGIA B. PALMER & DORIS PERKINS SCHOLARSHIP FUND

Doris Nell Wilson-Perkins was born on June 28, 1937, in Rankin County, Mississippi, the only child of T.J. and Ruth Cannon-Wilson. She grew up as a member of Rock Hill Baptist Church before her marriage.

​

Doris began her education at Rock Hill School, completing grades one through eight, before continuing at Piney Woods Country Life School from ninth grade through junior college. She went on to earn her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Jackson College, now Jackson State University, and later returned to Jackson State to complete her Master of Education.

​

Doris devoted 39.5 years of her life to teaching Mississippi's children. She began her career at Yazoo City Training School #2, teaching seventh and eighth grade science for two years, before moving to Harper Vocational School to teach fifth grade. She spent the remainder of her classroom career at Mendenhall Elementary, teaching fourth grade. Beyond the classroom, she served 13 years on the Simpson County School Board, including one term as its president.

​

Doris met Billy Ray Perkins, and the two were married. Three children were born to their union: Darcel (Linda), Felecia, and Clint. She is also grandmother to Ashley, Darrian, and Austin, and great-grandmother to Jordan and Blair.

​

A longtime member of Saint John Missionary Baptist Church, Doris has served faithfully in numerous roles, including Adult Sunday School Teacher, Mission President, and Financial Secretary. Her commitment to education and community extended into her decades-long friendship with Virgia B. Palmer, alongside whom she served as Treasurer of the Virgia Palmer Scholarship Fund — a partnership now honored in the naming of the Virgia B. Palmer and Doris Perkins Scholarship Fund.