Paul “Perkins” Murphy Wilson, a resident of Silverhill, Alabama, passed away peacefully at a Birmingham hospital on September 25, 2025, surrounded by loving family. He was born September 3, 1968, in Queens, New York, to the late Dorothy Cecelia Murphy and Elwood Duke Wilson.
Paul, called “Perkins” by many of his numerous friends, was a beacon of kindness, dedicated to serving his community and love for his family, friends and the many dogs he fostered. He spent his early years in Woodhaven, New York, attending P.S. 60 Elementary School and playing in the neighborhood with his many friends. Paul inherited a passion for law enforcement from his NYPD Officer and Army Reserve Sergeant mother as a young boy. He started a police club with neighborhood boys and got his “mug shot” taken with his best friend when visiting his mother at her police precinct. He would mimic a police siren so authentically while bike-riding in the local park, it would spook surreptitiously smoking teens. Paul’s favorite TV shows were Adam-12, Emergency and The Andy Griffith Show.
Paul moved to Fairhope, Alabama at age 12, where he attended Fairhope Middle School. There his affability, quick wit and keen sense of humor quickly earned him many life-long friendships. He graduated from Fairhope High School in 1987 and graduated from the Southwest Alabama Police Academy in 1993. Paul started his law enforcement career serving as the Fairhope Pier Cop the summer of 1993 and then as a police officer in Prichard, Chickasaw and Spanish Fort police departments, retiring in 2011 with the rank of Sergeant. He was never short of amusing tales of both his fellow police officers and the law breakers he arrested.
Paul’s community service was expansive. He was a volunteer fighting fires for the Marlow-Fish River Volunteer Fire Department in high school and a volunteer in the Daphne Search and Rescue Squad. Paul, the son of a career U.S. Marine, was proud of his work with the Jesse Andrews Jr., Marine Corps League. He assisted with the annual Toys-for-Tots Campaign and supported veterans in need. He combined his love of riding a Can-Am motorcycle with service in The Patriot Guard Riders, as a funeral escort for fallen heroes – first responders and military veterans. Paul’s most life-changing volunteer endeavor was as a dog rescuer, proven by the many chihuahuas, the “foster fails” for who he became their permanent “Fur Dad.”
Paul was a kind, gentle, unassuming man who was generous with his time, easy-going and young-at-heart. He manifested a full life with a successful career, always having an open door for friends and family despite being diagnosed with kidney disease early in his life. He was always up for a late-night hamburger or donut run and chats about life with fellow insomniacs. He embraced his Irish and Southern heritages, enjoying a pint of Guinness when on one of his visits to the Emerald Isle or local Irish pub. His low country boils and his crawfish étouffée were legendary.
Paul is survived by his sisters, Ann Wilson Billian (Carl) and Barbara Wilson; half-brother, Eddie Joe Wilson (Lori); aunt, Margaret Joyce Brown; his rescue dog, Tator; and numerous cousins and friends. Paul was pre-deceased by his parents; half-sister, Terry Ann Wilson; and his loved “fur babies” Maximus, Queenie, Buddy and Prissy.
A Celebration of Life service will be held on Saturday October 18, 2025, at Hughes Funeral Home at 26209 Pollard Road, Daphne, Alabama. Visitation will begin at 11:00AM with the service starting at noon. A reception will be held immediately after the service at a location to be announced at a later date. The family requests that attendees wear something blue in honor of his career in law enforcement. The service will be live-streamed and accessible through the funeral home website for anyone unable to attend in person.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to A Place of Hope Small Dog Rescue, located in Pensacola, Florida, an organization that Paul held close to his heart at https://aplaceofhoperescue.com/
Expressions of condolence may be offered at www.hughesfh.com. Hughes Funeral Home of Daphne, AL is assisting the family.
I am so saddened to hear of Paul’s passing. My deepest Sympathies go out to his family. I was friends with Paul in the 4th grade at P.S. 60. I was thrilled to reconnect with him on Facebook and to see the incredible and exemplary man he grew up to be. God bless and Rest in Peace
Rest old friend. You won’t be forgotten. I’ll miss 42 years of your friendship and will always remember the great times we had. The world lost a good one.
I want to say that it has been an honor being your friend and I am glad my kids got to meet you.
I had a lot of firsts being your friend.
First time in a hooters, first time having a crawfish boil , first time shooting a gun, and my first time in new orleans. Im sure there a few more that I just can’t think of right now.
I wish I could have seen you one more time. .
Your a good man Paul, you will be greatly missed and you will never be forgotten.
Rest easy Paul.
Grateful for our friendship. Even though I knew who you were in high school, we didn’t really know each other until you became a cop which scared the hell out of me. Glad you got to know my family and they got to know you. This world was so much fun with you in it. Cafe Acadiana will always bring memories of our dinners there together. Marissa enjoyed our visits when we brought you dinner especially when Tater and Prissy let her love on them. I know you are healed and in a better place but hate my last visit with you was at USA Hospital. Well done, Perk! You are missed!
Thank You Paul for being such an awesome person! I always loved dispatching for you. You educated me on the variety of calls, and the lord knows there were some hum-dingers !! It was never a dull moment when 408 was on the clock! I loved the special horn as you passed by my house!! You are always in my heart.
Hello my dear Paul, you’re an angel on this Earth and Angels Die Young. You will be surely missed. I miss our conversations I’ll miss you being there at our family gatherings and birthdays and Christmas. I know you are resting in peace. Thank you for everything for being there when I needed you and being a very very good friend. The best friend anyone could have.
I miss you Uncle Perky, from convincing me to superglue my thumb to the coffee table to climbing up the pole to “borrow”some cable at my folks house. You were a highlight of growing up a poor kid in south Alabama. You took me to go mountain biking for the first time and it had an major impact on my life. So much so that I live in the Colorado Rockies and own a mountain bike shop. You left such an impression on all the lives you touched. I’m so sorry I can’t make it to the service, but I’ll come visit you when I’m home for the holidays. Love you with all my heart Paul.
We are all better people for having known Perkins. You will be missed but always remembered with love and laughter.
When first meeting you at dinner at sister Ann’s place, I commented on how sweet you are! So unassuming in your generosity are you. When I needed to transport inherited furniture from New England to Atlanta, I was surprised that sister Ann volunteered you! And, it all worked out, accepting only food and fuel for the trip all the way to the end of Cape Cod and back. Now, the huge breakfront in my house is a reminder of that time and your gently spirit. I loved the way you connected with our host in her art studio apartment atop a garage with vintage ‘The Doors’ cassettes keeping you company while I dealt with my siblings. So fond of you, dear Paul. It is a blessing and inspiration to us all that you came to terms with mortality. Farewell into infinity.
“Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” – Dr. Seuss
Perkins, what can I say that hasn’t been said. You were one of the first people I met when I moved to Fairhope. We became fast friends and I’ll always cherish that.
From the many trips to FloraBama to eat oysters, drink a pitcher of beer, and watch Beevis and Butthead or the many nights of giving you hell while we hung out at the pier while you were keeping us out of trouble.
I’ll cherish those memories always!
I love you and will miss you greatly my friend.