Barbara and Porterfield Wilson were a dynamic dealer duo well known in Detroit's Black community in the 1970s and beyond.
During their lifetimes, they were avid boaters and moved in a social circle that included former Mayor Coleman Young, according to dealers and others who knew them.
The couple owned Porterfield Wilson Pontiac-GMC Truck in Detroit and Honda and Mazda dealerships in nearby Ferndale, Mich. Barbara became the industry's first Black female dealer principal, overseeing the Honda store.