Wilson’s Story
Horace Wilson Moore, IV – known as Wilson – was a bright, social, and adventurous young man who loved the outdoors, tinkering with projects, and spending time with his friends and family. He had a knack for bargaining, once trading tires for a boat, only to discover a hole when the boat flooded on the water!
Wilson was born on his due date – February 19, 2005. He graduated from Heritage High School and took a job as a surveyor. He had a fun-loving spirit and was a dedicated worker. His competitive streak and collaborative nature made him a natural leader, and his kindness touched everyone he met.
Wilson died from what family suspect was fentanyl poisoning. While Wilson chose to take a pill that the family believed he thought was a Percocet, he did not choose to die. A good friend who was with him that night also passed away.
His passing devastated his family, friends, and community, but his mother, Betsy, decided to turn her grief into action. She thought about how dropping a pebble into water has a ripple effect far away from where it started. Life is like that – one word, gesture, or action can affect everyone around you.
Betsy wanted the cataclysmic wave of grief after Wilson’s death to be a force for positive change. She now speaks out about the dangers of fentanyl, keeping Wilson’s memory alive and fighting to prevent others from experiencing the same heartbreak.
Wilson’s Song
Written by Chris Simes
(verse 1)
As you live within this life- a universe surrounds you
It’s like water, it’s like air- it’s the substance that we move though…
If you never moved at all- if your life was just inaction,
no movement, rise or fall- there might be no reaction…
But that’s not real- we can’t stand still.
We move, we take, we give… we have feelings, we have will.
And once that movement happens- there’s a cause and a reaction,
and your life creates a wave- with other’s lives, an interaction…
(chorus)
A wave goes out- a wave comes back…
some waves repel- some waves attract…
Our lives will always- send out a wave…
into the world… what will your wave say?
(verse 2)
There was a guy named Wilson, he was kind, and he was good
He wasn’t always perfect, but he lived the best he could…
His friends knew that he loved them- his wave was joy and light
He sent it out into the world, and it felt so warm, and bright…
He played sports with energy, he worked as a surveyor
Marking boundaries upon a land, made by the Creator.
Wilson wished the best- for everyone he knew
And people in his orbit- could sense that it was true
(chorus)
(verse 3)
Every wave is not the same- some are big, and some are small
Some are good, and some are bad- and sometimes that’s all they are.
But other times a wave.. is wearing a disguise-
it seems at first quite pleasant, but it’s anything but nice…
And we can be deceived- by what first seems fun
It’s just a little pleasure- it couldn’t hurt anyone.
Sometimes we just get lucky- I know I sure was,
when I was young, and didn’t know- the pain that it could cause…
(chorus)
(verse 4)
One day Wilson, and a couple friends, were carried by a wave
It seemed like such a little thing- but it didn’t go that way…
It was just a small diversion, just a little brief release
It didn’t mean much really, a little artificial peace…
But it went so bad, for two of them- that day they did not know-
that wave, it carried evil- and it dealt a heavy blow…
But that was only one day- in a whole lifetime of days
It doesn’t change who Wilson was… and with us… he remains
(chorus)
(partial chorus)
