10/23/2026
Mrs. Carol Wilkins Wilson was born June 22, 1948, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas to the late Henry Wilkins, Jr. and Minnie Jones Wilkins. She was the eleventh of twelve children.
Carol’s loving, thoughtful and engaging personality was one of her most enduring and impactful attributes to all who knew her. She was consistently generous with her heart, time, resources and attention. Whether it be with family, friends, extended community or strangers, Carol was purposeful in her efforts to make others feel seen, inspired and heard. Her home with her loving husband James “J.C.” Wilson was a reflection of this spirit, and was always a place of comfort, joy and gathering for all — children, neighbors, friends and more. Carol found great joy in the friends of her children Kevin and Karen, and knowing that she had gained so many additional “children” beyond her own.
Carol attended First Trinity Church Of God In Christ in Pine Bluff, AR where Carol sang in the choir along side her sister Faye. She was a 1966 graduate of Pine Bluff’s Merrill High School, where she graduated with honors. Carol received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (formerly Arkansas AM&N College) in 1970. While attending UAPB, Carol served as a majorette and also as president of the Delta Eta chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. In 1969, Carol married James "J.C." Wilson, her high school sweetheart. To this union two children, Kevin and Karen were born. After becoming widowed later in life, she remarried for a brief time before then moving to Maryland to be near her children and grandchildren.
Carol became a Golden Life member of her beloved Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated after serving many years in multiple chapters, namely the North Little Rock, Miami-Dade, and Dallas Chapters. She was a Charter member of the Miami Chapter of the Girlfriends Incorporated, a member of the Dallas Chapter of Girlfriends, Incorporated and a Charter member of the Miami Biscayne Bay (FL) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated, and a member of the Greater Denton County, Texas Chapter of Links, Incorporated. In addition to this, Carol was active in numerous civic, professional and social organizations throughout the years, serving in roles such as: Boys & Girls Club volunteer, a Brownie/Girl Scout troop leader, Jack & Jill of America, Inc. chapter officer, and more. She served as a school PTA president, and was later elected PTA president of the entire North Little Rock School District. Carol was also a tennis lover and player, maintaining membership in multiple tennis clubs over the years and playing in competitive leagues.
During her children’s younger years, Carol maintained a consistent presence as a substitute teacher in various schools, before then transitioning to a full-time role as a biology teacher in the Miami-Dade County Public Schools system. Teaching, mentoring and nurturing strong relationships with her students was one of her greatest joys. During this time, she also began graduate studies and obtained a Master of Public Health degree from Florida International University. Carol later expanded her impact and reach by accepting a school district-wide Health Educator position at the central Miami-Dade County Public Schools office, where she led and conducted HIV/Aids prevention training and education to Miami area schools. She was also an active member of the New Way Fellowship Praise and Worship Center in Miami, Florida.
Carol often reflected on and marveled at the beautiful journey of her life and where she began.
Having been born into and living through Jim Crow segregation, SNCC Freedom Sunday meetings, and on to all of the places to which she later moved and lived — places in which she and her new young family sometimes still met and confronted bigotry and death threats as they integrated neighborhoods and new career positions. And through it all, the incredible wonder of having met and been blessed with so many loving and beautiful people of all backgrounds. Whether it be in Bowling Green, KY, North Little Rock, AR, Miami, FL or elsewhere, her new-found sisters/brothers/lifelong friends made her thankful beyond all measure. She loved all of you very much.
Carol’s faith and love for God was a throughline for all that she did, and reflected in her impact on those around her. Preceding her in death was her husband, James "J.C." Wilson; her parents Henry Wilkins, Jr. & Minnie Jones Wilkins, and eight siblings (Henry Wilkins III, Billy Wilkins, Shirley Wilkins Goodwin, James Wilkins, Frank Harold Wilkins, Marian Wilkins, Robert Wilkins, Donald Wilkins). She is survived by her son Kevin (Katharina), daughter Karen (Phil), grandsons Devin Wilson Crosby, Johann Wilson, Michael LeBlanc-Simpson and granddaughter Oni Simpson. She is also survived by her brother John Charles "Tony" Wilkins; two sisters, Minnie Wilkins Turner and Faye Wilkins Davis; brother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and a host of loving nieces, nephews, cousins, stepdaughter, stepson and friends.
Funeral Service will be held 2:30 p.m. Saturday, October 24, 2026 at Amos Chapel Missionary Baptist Church, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Interment in Graceland Cemetery, Pine Bluff, Arkansas by Brown Funeral Home of Pine Bluff, AR.
The Obituary submitted by The Family
www.brownfuneralhomeandmortuary.com
