Wilfred Carlton Platt Jr.

Wilfred Carlton Platt, Jr., 89, of Macon, died December 31, 2025, at his home. A memorial service will be held at Vineville Baptist Church in Macon, Georgia, on Thursday, January 8, 2026, at 2:00 PM with visitation to follow at the same location. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions be made in Dr. Platt’s memory to the local Music Ministry of Vineville Baptist Church.

Born March 29, 1936, in Charleston County, South Carolina, to the late Lucille Weeks Platt and Wilfred Carlton Platt, Sr., Wilfred grew up in the historic Lowcountry of the state calling Yonges Island home for the earliest days of his life. He loved learning from an early age and soon graduated from the local school, St. Paul’s High School. This accomplishment marked the true start of his lifelong endeavor to teach and learn each day. At the conclusion of his life, he held degrees from Furman University, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Ohio University, and the University of Georgia.

Dr. Wilfred Platt proudly taught with the Department of History at Mercer University in Macon beginning in 1966 and retiring in 2000. During his tenure, he served as an Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts for nearly two decades. He also directed its Honors program from 2002 to 2005. One of his proudest accomplishments was founding the the university's Study Abroad program. From its inaugural venture in 1983 until his retirement, he volunteered as the program’s organizer and designated faculty advisor.

As a longtime member of Vineville Baptist Church, Wilfred found joy in singing with the choir and playing trombone in the Vineville Brass Ensemble. An educator through and through, he taught Sunday school for several decades, serving generations of Vineville families. He also led seminars on C. S. Lewis, whom he greatly admired, at Vineville Baptist Church and in various locations near Augusta, Columbus, and Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoyed traveling, most of all to England, and had managed to make the trip with each of his children and grandchildren through the years. During their summers, the family often took extended trips up and down the Eastern Seaboard, even into Nova Scotia.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years, Barbara Coleman Platt. He is survived by his wife of 22 years, Roslyn Rawls Platt; two children, Margaret Platt Hill (Robert) and Stephen Carlton Platt (Pam); two sisters, Betsy Platt Waters (Wilbert) and Mary Platt Cartwright; as well as four grandchildren and one great grandson.

Please visit www.hartsmort.com to express condolences.

Hart’s at the Cupola, Hart's Mortuary and Cremation Center, 6324 Peake Rd, Macon, GA 31210 has charge of the arrangements.