Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home

06/22/2026

Happy Retirement, Susan!!! 🎉

After 18 amazing years, our **Director of First Impressions**, Susan Stem, has officially retired!!!

Susan's kindness, compassion, and friendly smile welcomed so many families through our doors over the years. She has been an important part of our team, and she will be greatly missed.

Thank you, Susan, for your 18 years of dedication and service to the Waco community. We wish you all the best in your retirement!!!

Congratulations, Susan!!! Enjoy this exciting new chapter! ❤️

06/11/2026

A service celebrating Mace Brindley will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, June 15, 2026, at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church.

View Dr. Mace L. Brindley's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/09/2026

If you or a loved one have been affected by Alzheimer's disease, please check out this free educational event coordinated by Divine Home Health, you can register to attend at the link below.

https://divinehomecareservices.com/mc-lennan-county-alzheimers-expo/

06/09/2026

Judith Ann Turner

Judith Ann Turner, age 72, passed away peacefully on June 1, 2026, in Porter, Texas. In her final weeks, she resided near her daughter in Porter, though she proudly called Austin, Texas home for nearly three decades.

Born on April 23, 1954, on Long Island, New York, Judith lived a life guided by service, integrity, and compassion. She served honorably in the United States Air Force before dedicating herself to raising her family and later pursuing a career in education, from which she retired in 2019.

Judith was known for her strong morals, creative spirit, and unwavering sense of honor. She enjoyed hiking the trails around Austin, tackling home improvement projects, volunteering to support children in her community, and spending time with her beloved pets. Above all, she cherished her family and treasured every opportunity to be with her grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Turner; her father, Walter Harris; her mother, Jennie Harris; and her brother, Walter Harris.

Judith is survived by her children, Eliza Deriso, Lloyd Burton, and David Burton; her stepson, Nathan Turner; six beloved grandchildren; her sisters, Jennifer Aponte, Kathy Hurd, and Nancy Sweeny; her brother, George Harris; and her sister-in-law, Patricia Harris, who was like a sister to her.

A lifelong Lutheran, Judith lived according to her values and never wavered in standing up for what she believed was right. She leaves behind a legacy of kindness, resilience, creativity, and service to others. Her family and friends will remember her for her generosity, her determination, and the example she set by living a life true to her principles.

Judith will be laid to rest with military honors at Riesel Cemetery in Riesel, Texas.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in her memory to AGE of Central Texas, Coats for Kids, or Angel Tree Blue Santa.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Judith on her Tribute Wall at www.WHBfamily.com

View Judith Ann Turner's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/09/2026

Suzan Elaine Thompson Greenawalt

Suzan Elaine Thompson Greenawalt, 70, passed away on February 26, 2026, at Providence Hospital in Waco, Texas, to join her Spirit Family and friends in Heaven.

A Celebration of Life service for Suzan will be held on Friday, July 3, 2026, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at her home church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 7201 Viking Dr. Waco, Texas 76710.

She was born to parents Richard P. Thompson and Doris Matthys Thompson on July 29, 1955, in Mineola, Texas.

Suzan attended the original Richfield High School and graduated in 1973. She later attended McLennan Community College to further her education.

On October 8, 1983, Suzan married Charles Jeffery Greenawalt in an outdoor wedding ceremony held in her parents’ backyard in Waco, Texas. They were blessed with two children: Justin and Andrew Greenawalt.

Suzan was a very good friend to many and was always willing to help others, especially by giving rides and making sure people could get where they needed to go. She was an avid member of the Any Lengths and Just for Today NA groups in Waco and was always willing to share, host meetings, and support others in their recovery.

She was a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and could always be found at church, faithfully participating in her ward and serving those around her. Her kindness, generosity, and willingness to show up for others will be deeply missed.

Suzan was preceded in death by her parents, Richard P. Thompson and Doris Matthys Thompson; her brother, William “Billy” Thompson; and her husband, Jeffery Greenawalt.

She is survived by her two sons, Justin Greenawalt and his wife, Amanda, and Andrew Greenawalt and his wife, Tina; her nephew, his wife and children; and several cousins.

The Greenawalt family would like to thank her church family and members of Suzan’s support groups for their thoughts, prayers, and support.

Family and friends are invited to attend and share in remembering Suzan’s life.

View Suzan Elaine Thompson Greenawalt's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/09/2026

Shirley LaVerne Hollingsworth Frields

Shirley LaVerne Hollingsworth Frields went to her heavenly home on Wednesday, June 3, at the age of 89. Services will be at Olive Branch Baptist Church in Axtell, Texas, on Wednesday, June 10, at 10 a.m. Visitation will be Tuesday, June 9, from 5-7 p.m. at Wilkerson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home in Waco, Texas. Ron Durham, nephew, and Brother Lester Adams will be officiating; burial will follow at Dresden Cemetery in Barry, Texas. Music provided by her son-in-law, Charlie Burch.

Shirley was born on September 19, 1936, in Corbet, Navarro County, to Claude and Maudie (Swaner) Hollingsworth. She graduated from LaVega High School. Shirley and the love of her life, J. R., married on August 7, 1954, and celebrated 70 years of marriage, before his passing. She went to summer school 3 summers to be able to graduate early to get married. She retired from Axtell ISD with over 30 years as a paraprofessional. She loved the students and staff she worked with over the years. She was a long-time member of Spring Street Baptist Church and Concord Baptist Church.

Mama and Daddy were well known for their biscuits and gravy, which they shared often with family and friends over the years. It was by far our favorite meal. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren cherished the time they spent being spoiled by their Nanny and Papa, a lifetime of love and memories they will hold forever.

She was preceded in death by her husband John (J. R.); parents Claude and Maudie; brothers, J. O., Claude (Dud), and Jimmy; several nephews and nieces.

She is survived by her daughter Karen Burch and husband, Charlie, of Robinson; daughter Pam Harrison and husband, Donnie, of Axtell; son John Frields Jr. and David Haun of Jacksonville; four grandchildren, Brad Harrison and wife, Kameron; Chris Burch and Amy Arani; Heather Martinez and husband, Junior; Michael Harrison and wife, Shallie; eight great-grandchildren, Kate, Faith, A. J., and Kaylee Martinez; and Avery, Case, Reese, and Brooks Harrison; and numerous nephews and nieces and their families.

She was known by all as a kind, caring woman with a great heart. She was a loving daughter, sister, aunt, wife, sister-in-law, Mama, Nanny, and friend. We are beyond

blessed to call her ours. She and Daddy were always willing to open their home to anyone that needed one. Over the years, they grew our family to include Babetta, Randy and Jeff.

Pallbearers are Brad and Michael Harrison, Chris Burch, Junior and A. J. Martinez, and Roger Frields.

Thank you to Wesley Woods Care Center for their loving care. We were blessed beyond measure.

Please feel free to wear jeans and your favorite color to celebrate a life well-lived!

Memorials may be made to www.gideons.org to provide Bibles to men, women, and children.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Shirley on her Tribute Wall at www.WHBfamily.com

View Shirley LaVerne Hollingsworth Frields's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/08/2026

Ila Jean Carothers

Ila Jean Carothers, of Waco, passed away Thursday, June 4, 2026.

Services will be 1:00 pm, Thursday, June 11, 2026, at Wilkirson-Hatch-Bailey Funeral Home with the burial will follow at Waco Memorial Park. Visitation will be on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 pm.

Ila Jean Carothers was born Sept. 12, 1938, in San Angelo, Texas to Homer Ray & Bell Boyer. After her first two years of school, the family moved to Eldorado, Texas. She was an honor student in Eldorado High School graduating in 1956. She attended Abilene Christian College while working at West Texas Utilities part time. It was there she met Jony (M. E. Carothers, Jr.) who was attending Hardin Simmons University in Abilene. They became friends and later married on March 3, 1961. In May 1961 they both graduated from their respective colleges on the same day; one a morning ceremony and the other was held at night.

Their son, Kenneth Alan, was born in Abilene in 1962. In 1964 they moved to Waco where Jon began a lifelong career with Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Co. When Ken began school, Ila Jean began her career with a 20-year employment with Central Texas Iron Works until new owners closed the local office. She was also employed by Waco Construction and D&E Builders in the following 7 years.

Ila Jean enjoyed many years in the garden club, being a master flower show judge and a Texas Master Gardener. She was a member of the first class held in Waco in 1996 and was frequently quoted in the paper regarding gardening subjects. She was also President of the Texas Master Gardeners one year. The Carothers built a home for their retirement years where they had plenty of room to build raised beds where she gardened and grew vegetables, donating many pounds of produce to the Caritas food bank. She would tell you “I don’t like to cook but I love to grow the plants”.

She was preceded in death by parents, H. Ray and Bell Boyer of Eldorado, her husband, Jon, of Waco, her brother, Larry Boyer of Eldorado and sister-in-law, Paula Boyer of Eldorado.

She is survived by her son, Ken Carothers and wife, Angela of Waco, granddaughter Adriana Batista of Waco, brother Danny Boyer and fiancé, Hollie Childers of Eldorado, sister-in-law, Marion Boyer of San Angelo, cousins, Donna Beth McCormick of Austin and Mack Stephenson of Waco as well as several other cousins, nieces, great-nieces and great nephews.

Thank you to Arbor House and Arbor Gardens for their care of Ila Jean in her final years.

The family invites you to leave a message or memory of Ila on her Tribute Wall at www.WHBfamily.com

View Ila Jean Carothers's obituary, send flowers, find service dates, and sign the guestbook.

06/05/2026

We LOVE our aftercare team with Full-Circle Aftercare, how wonderful they were able to find this amount of unclaimed property for families

Last month, our amazing Estate Specialists helped grieving families find $134,623.48 in unclaimed property!

06/05/2026

Family Service Counselor Jenna Mayfield will be in attendance at the Alzheimer's Expo! Register today for this free event, educational resources will be available, as well as a simulation to help understand what our loved ones with Alzheimer's and Dementia experience. We hope to see you there!