Birth Date: 04/22/1930
Deceased Date: 06/20/2024
Wilma Oliver Baker passed away on June 20, 2024 at her home in Pine Level, North Carolina, surrounded by her loving family. She was 94 years old. Wilma was born April 22, 1930 to James Larkin Peedin and Sarah Catherine (Sadie) Boykin Peedin. She was the second youngest of seven children and grew up on the family farm outside of Pine Level. She attended school at Pine Level School. Wilma married the love of her life, Donald Buren (Doc) Oliver, on February 13,
Soon after marriage Wilma accompanied Doc to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia where he completed his studies and training in optometry. Their first child, Mary Linda (Lynn), was born there. The family soon relocated to Pine Level where they had their second and third daughters, Cynthia Colleen and Carolyn Wilma.
Doc gifted Wilma her first orchid plant on their tenth wedding anniversary. She thereafter started collecting orchids in her travels and discovered a passion for flowers. Local florists learned of her exotic orchid plants and she soon began delivering orchids to local florists in Eastern North Carolina. What was first a hobby turned into a business when Doc and Wilma opened Cyn-Mar Corporation in 1955. Cyn-Mar, known as the “Home of Wilma’s Orchids,” was named after two of their daughters, Cynthia and Mary, and is now a third-generation family business. Cyn-Mar currently services retailers in multiple states throughout the Southeast. Wilma worked full-time at Cyn-Mar until she was 87 years old. In 2019, she was awarded the North Carolina State Florists Association Distinguished Service Award. She never met a stranger or a flower she did not love.
Wilma was a proud life-long resident of Pine Level. She also enjoyed spending time in Surf City with family and friends and was affectionately known as “Mama Wilma” to her five grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and countless others. Wilma had a generous spirit and leaves behind a lasting impact on her community, family and friends. Wilma was preceded in death by her late husband, Donald Buren (Doc) Oliver, and her siblings Golda Peedin Davis, Velma Peedin Luck, Rachel Peedin Johnson, Gordon Neil Peedin, Norman Ross Peedin and Jimmy Eugene Peedin.
Wilma is survived by her three daughters: Lynn Oliver Gartland (John) of Greensboro, Colleen Oliver Lanier (Phil) of Winston-Salem, and Carolyn Oliver Renfrow (Mike) of Pine Level. Additional survivors include her five grandchildren: John Edmond (Eddie) Gartland, IV (Stephanie) of Gahanna, Ohio, Mary Elizabeth Gartland of Raleigh, Suzanne Renfrow Walker (Bo) of Raleigh, Kimberly Gartland Dwyer (Kit) of Cumming, Georgia, and William Michael Renfrow (Shanin) of Clayton. Wilma is also survived by her cherished six great-grandchildren: Sophia Eliesse Gartland, Norah May Gartland, James Wilder Walker, Oliver Kit Dwyer, Harper Decklynn Dwyer, Bennett Dawes Walker and many nieces and nephews.
The family extends sincere appreciation to Wilma’s in-home caregivers who cared for her with loving kindness and thoughtful attention for the last six years.
There will be a visitation with the family on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Parrish Funeral Home, 1351 South Pollock St., Selma. A celebration of Wilma’s life will be held Wednesday, June 26, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Pine Level Missionary Baptist Church, 110 S. Peedin Ave., Pine Level, where she was a member. A graveside service at Oliver Cemetery will follow.
Flowers are welcome and memorial contributions may be made in Wilma’s memory to Pine Level Missionary Baptist Church or to the Coastal Land Trust, care of “Save the South End” at https://coastallandtrust.org/save-the-south-end/.
