Obituary of Carolyn Collard Wilson

Carolyn Collard Wilson was called to her heavenly home Thursday morning, January 18, 2024.

Memorial Service: 10 a.m., Saturday, February 24, 2024 at Genesis United Methodist Church, 7635 S Hulen Street, Fort Worth, TX 76133.

Carolyn was born June 12, 1941, in Hillsboro, Texas, the daughter of Willie Mae and Franklin George Collard. She attended high school in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma where, upon graduation in 1959, she married her high school sweetheart, Russell Leland Wilson. She and Russell were happily married for 63 years. They started their married life in Shawnee, Oklahoma attending Oklahoma Baptist University. Carolyn later completed her studies at Texas Christian University earning both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in speech-language pathology in 1974 and 1975.

Carolyn touched the lives of countless children and their parents through her professional work in schools and in private practice. Highly acclaimed in the field of speech-language pathology, she shared her ideas in the many books she authored or coauthored. These publications continue to be used by educators across the United States and Canada.

As an active member of Genesis United Methodist Church for over 25 years, she taught many classes in spiritual formation and led Life After Loss grief recovery groups with Russell. She had a passion for prayer ministry and spiritual formation and helped to develop the Genesis Prayer Ministry. This passion led her to complete the Two-Year Academy for Spiritual Formation in 2000. She also received training in spiritual direction from the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio and the Anglican School of Theology in Dallas.

Carolyn loved the Lord and loved her family. She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great grandmother and created a special place in her heart for each one. Her faithfulness to God’s calling in her life has created a lasting impact and a spiritual legacy for her entire family.

She was preceded in death by her father, Franklin George Collard, her mother, Willie Mae Collard and brothers, Acy Callaway Jr. and Mark Collard.

She is survived by her husband, Russell; daughter Sherrie; son Scott and his wife Pam; grandson Jonathan Wilson and his wife Alexandra and their children Malia and Silas; granddaughter Sarah Dickerson and her husband Daniel; and granddaughter Becca Wilson. Carolyn’s family wishes to thank the administrators and staff at The Vantage at Cityview and the hospice team of Champion Healthcare of North Texas for the love and care they showed to Carolyn and the family over the past year.

In lieu of flowers, gifts in her memory may be given to a charity of choice or to Genesis United Methodist Church, 7635 South Hulen, Fort Worth, Texas 76133.