1913 - 2003
Married: Mary Alice Seay, 1939
Children: Mary Davis, Ruth Wharton, AC Wharton Jr., Kenneth Wharton, Velma Lowe
9 Grandchildren and 7 Great-Grandchildren
A.C. Wharton was born July 22,1913 in rural Wilson County as the eldest son of Jim Wharton and Estella Hearn Wharton .There were nine siblings for whom he served as surrogate father after his father passed at an early age. His father was a sharecropper or tenant farmer which meant that as a young boy he had to assume the responsibility of providing for the family. He often commented on how this affected his opportunity to attend school on a regular basis.
AC married his loving and caring wife, Mary Alice Seay on April 22 ,1939 on the Public Square in front of General Hatton. They lived on the Johnny Smith farm in the Spring Creek area in a two room cabin with a leaky roof. They were blessed with the birth of two daughters, Mary and Ruth while living there. AC possessed an overwhelming desire to provide better living conditions and educational opportunities for his family so he began looking for work in Lebanon. Later, AC bought a farm in Linwood and raised sheep and calves and Mary served as midwife during the birthing of new animals. Agriculture was always a family affair for the Wharton’s in that there were always feedings, pickings of produce, herding calves and hogs from one place to another etc.. His last farming purchase was only one half mile from his home where he raised calves and hogs and a large garden. He had a pond stocked with fish and had an old tractor seat mounted so that he could sit, think and fish. AC was one of the first to raise Duroc hogs which were considered one of the best breed of hogs.
Mr. and Mrs. Wharton were actively involved as members of the Market Street Church of Christ and demonstrated their Christianity by always taking care of the less fortunate regardless of their need. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, Wilson County Civic League, McFarland Hospital Board of Trustees, Lebanon Housing Authority and the Emergency Communications 911 Board. Although AC did not have a formal education he was a master of human relations and admired by all who knew him. The success of his five children brought him so much joy in that they graduated from universities and have successful careers.
