Quiet Strength and Candles: The Life and Family of Eva Rakes Wilson

Basic Information

Family, Roots, and the People Who Make the Story

When I tell this story I picture a porch conversation—long, honest, and full of the little details that make a life cinematic. Eva Rakes Wilson is the kind of presence that reads on the page as steady and practical: a mother, a business partner, a former court stenographer who learned discipline where enough punctuation can change the whole meaning of a sentence. She married Roscoe C. Wilson Jr., and together they raised two children who populate the family’s rhythms: Renaldo, the older brother who quietly roots the household, and A’ja Wilson—born August 8, 1996—the meteoric basketball talent whose name most people will recognize first.

Family dynamics here feel like a small ensemble cast in a beloved TV drama. Roscoe stands as the husband and father figure—steady, background-support in many profiles. Renaldo has lived in the margins of public attention, the sibling who shows up in family photos and social posts, part of the scaffolding that helped A’ja become who she is. Then there’s Hattie—grandmother and matriarch in memory—whose influence is often referenced as the spiritual backbone of the household; her mark appears in interviews and tattoos, the echoes of the past shaping the present.

This is a family that appears to trade in loyalty, quiet work, and mutual uplift—values that show up in the businesses they start together and in the foundation work they support. I like to imagine them like a jazz trio: everyone has their solo, but the depth comes from the way they listen to each other.

Career, Business Ventures, and Public Roles

Eva’s résumé doesn’t read like a single headline; it reads like a life stitched from many competent, meaningful roles. She worked as a court stenographer—an exacting job where every word matters—and later held positions in local school employment. Those experiences speak to a person comfortable with responsibility, deadlines, and detail.

In more recent years Eva moved into entrepreneurship. She is publicly associated with “Pursenally Yours,” a handbag and accessories venture, the kind of small-business hustle that turns taste and craft into tangible products. Alongside her daughter, Eva helped co-found Burnt Wax Candle Company—a mother-daughter business that blends personal storytelling with product, a modern legacy project that smells like possibility and sells like a keepsake. Burnt Wax launched its public presence around 2021, a literal candle-lit pivot from court transcripts to boutique retail.

Eva is also described in family profiles as active in the family’s philanthropic and organizational efforts—working with the A’ja Wilson Foundation and related initiatives. In short: she juggles entrepreneurship, nonprofit involvement, and the role of supportive parent—often at the intersection of public attention and private life.

Timeline (Selected)

The Family as a Brand—and the Human Stories Behind It

If celebrity were only measured by headlines, Eva would be a supporting character; but family lives are rarely measured that way. The Wilson household has a twin identity: private people who became public through A’ja’s rise. That rise has brought attention to Eva—profiles that frame her as a mom who helped shape a champion and as a partner in small ventures that have their own personality. Think of it as a crossover episode: sports fame meets hometown hustle.

There are human-interest beats you can feel in the chest: stories about A’ja helping her mom financially, features about mother-daughter businesses, and social-media posts showing family milestones. None of it reads like ostentation; it reads like practical gratitude—paying bills, signing checks, building a brand together, lighting candles that carry names and dates and meanings.

Public Presence, Media Mentions, and What’s Not Public

Eva’s visibility is tethered to family news and small-business promotion. She appears in social media snapshots, product posts, and the occasional profile that leans into the family narrative. But she is not a celebrity in her own right—she’s a real-person figure in others’ stories. That means certain things remain private: exact birth date, detailed employment history timelines, and personal net worth are not publicly verified.

In other words, the record shows a life of service and entrepreneurship, not a ledger of celebrity trappings. That, to me, is part of the appeal—the quiet underside of fame where family and labor meet.

FAQ

Who is Eva Rakes Wilson?

Eva Rakes Wilson is best known as the mother of WNBA player A’ja Wilson and as an entrepreneur involved in small businesses and family foundation work.

Who is Eva’s husband?

Her husband is Roscoe C. Wilson Jr., identified publicly as A’ja and Renaldo’s father.

Who are Eva’s children?

Eva has two children who appear in public profiles: Renaldo (older son) and A’ja Wilson (daughter, b. August 8, 1996), the professional basketball player.

What businesses is Eva associated with?

She is publicly associated with “Pursenally Yours” and is a co-founder/partner in Burnt Wax Candle Company, a mother-daughter venture.

What was Eva’s earlier career?

She worked as a court stenographer and held positions in the local school district—roles that emphasize discipline, accuracy, and public service.

Does Eva have a public net worth?

There is no verified public net-worth figure for Eva Rakes Wilson; estimates focus on her daughter rather than her personally.

Is Eva active on social media?

She or pages associated with her family and businesses appear on social media, sharing family photos, product posts, and charitable activity.

How is Eva involved in philanthropic work?

Public profiles indicate she’s involved with the family’s foundation-related efforts, contributing to community and outreach projects linked to A’ja’s public platform.