Frankie Maxine Wheat Wilson

Frankie Maxine Wheat Wilson of Chalmette, Louisiana passed away peacefully on July 4, 2026, following an extended illness. In her final moments, she was where she wanted to be, resting at home with her daughters by her side.

Maxine was born April 25, 1938, in Bogalusa, Louisiana to James and Bessie Wheat. She had three younger brothers, Ed, Jack, and Byron. Her early years were spent in Crossroads, Mississippi and Bogalusa before the family moved to Chalmette when she was 14. Maxine attended Chalmette High School after which she started working in downtown New Orleans.

Mardi Gras Day 1959, Maxine met the love of her life, Austin Wilson, Jr., at Jerry La Vie’s Lounge as he was trying to rescue her from a bar fight from which she was trying to extract her underage brothers. Their mutual friend Tony had been trying to fix them up, but Maxine could not imagine the country girl would be of interest to the English teacher. How wrong she was! From that day onward, Austin was Maxine’s protector. They married on November 27, 1959, and quickly started a family. In 1963, they moved to Chalmette on the same street on which she grew up. She said she was willing to live anywhere else if it was on “her” corner. Much later in life she did move - directly across the street.

Maxine and Austin raised three children, Cheryl, Dawn, and Whip (Byron) in the Chalmette Vista neighborhood where she was friends with everyone. When the kids were off to school, the neighbors would gather on her porch to drink coffee and chat about soap operas, sewing, and their children.

Maxine was very independent and would not wait for anything. One time, Austin came home from work and found the wall in between the bedroom closet of the girls’ room and the hall closet knocked out, and Maxine with a sheepish grin on her face. She wanted the girls to have a walk-in closet, and, by-golly, she got what she wanted.

As her family grew up, you could find Maxine at every event behind the movie camera committing memories to Super 8; but rarely was she captured in any movies or pictures. She loved to sew and do crafts. When her girls were younger, she made all their clothes and crocheted constantly. Her favorite activity was camping at Flint Creek in Wiggins, Mississippi, and she often invited all the neighborhood girls to join.

For many years, Maxine and Austin hosted a New Year’s Day open house inviting reporters and photographers who were away from their families while covering the Sugar Bowl. In the Wilson's home, guests were always treated as members of the family and were included in eating the traditional good luck foods needed to start the year. After Austin’s passing in 1992, Maxine was embraced by the Associated Press as one of their own and she continued this annual celebration until Hurricane Katrina.

Maxine had a long career as a Customer Service Representative retiring from AAA Cooper Transportation in 2000. She'd dreamed of going to all 50 states and had a magnetic map of the US on her refrigerator to track her progress. Her love of travel took her across the US and Europe.

Maxine found her calling performing volunteer work. She was very active in the St. Bernard Volunteers for Family and Community serving as Chapter President for several years. She was instrumental in creating and supporting a scholarship for St. Bernard students to attend Nunez Community College.

Maxine is preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Austin, her son, Whip, and her brothers, Jack and Byron.

Maxine is survived by her brother, Eddie Wheat, daughter, Cheryl Lanier (Danny), daughter, Dawn Terre (Dave), grandchildren Austin Wilson Lanier, Meagan Christine Lanier (Sneha), Alicia Marie Terre, Daniel Lanier IV (Ileene), and Camille Brockett-Lanier (Mike), six great-grandchildren: Hannah Terre, Daniel V, Helen, and Samuel Lanier, and Leila and Tessa Brockett, and many nieces and nephews.

The family would like to thank the staff at Guardian Home Health and My Hospice, particularly Lydia, Christina, Allan, Amber, and Jessica. We are also thankful for the excellent care she received from the staff at Ochsner Medical Center Main Campus and Ochsner Baptist.

Maxine wanted to be remembered with a party, therefore the family will be hosting a Celebration of Life on August 8, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. at the Rummel Building Association, 2107 Paris Road, Chalmette, LA. All are invited to bring your memories to share with family and friends.

In remembrance of Maxine, the family would welcome donations to the St. Bernard Community Volunteers Scholarship Fund P.O Box 1505, Chalmette, LA 70044. Checks should be made payable to St. Bernard Community Volunteers for Maxine Wilson SBCV Scholarship.