Carol Reeves Wilkerson

Carol Elaine Reeves Wilkerson was born on August 13, 1934 in a small community in Butler County, known as Wild Fork, to her parents, Joe and Annie Belle Reeves. That day, 80 years ago, the doctor was in another county and couldn’t make it there in time her father, Joe, had to deliver her. She was born into a family that would grow to seven children. Preceding her in death is her sisters, Neatie Pearl Yates, and Vera Lou Foley Everette and her brothers, Owen Reeves, Joe Paul Reeves and Wayne Reeves. She is survived by one sister Maye Ann Lambert (Bob) of Pensacola, Florida.

Mama was six years old when they left Wild Fork for Mobile, riding all the way in the back of a truck. When they arrived in Mobile, they went to their aunt and uncle’s house, Jim and Ethel Reeves for ham and biscuits. This was their first meal in their new home, close to their grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.

When mama was sixteen years old she worked in an ice cream shop. While working there, she was set up on a blind date with Walter Wilkerson, only to find out on their 50th wedding anniversary that it wasn’t so blind. Daddy let her in on the fifty year old secret, that he went by the ice cream shop and checked her out. They were married for fifty-two wonderful years until his death in 2004.

They moved to Saraland, Alabama in 1956 and started their lives together there and they never left. During those years they made many friends and done their part to help the community.

Mama and daddy taught us the importance of taking care of each other and sticking together. They gave us the most perfect life, balanced with a strong work ethic and the enjoyment of playing together. Mama always had the house filled with the aroma of something good cooking on the stove. I was always amazed that after a weekend at the beach, and arriving home late at night, mama would come and start cooking right away so we would have a good hot meal before going to bed. After daddy’s death, mama went back to school, earning her associates degree in Applied Science at the age of seventy-three.

Left to cherish her memory and to rejoice in her life is her son, David Walter Wilkerson of Mobile, Alabama, her daughter Debbie Harris of Foley, Alabama and granddaughter, Jessica (JW) Adams of Summerdale, Alabama two great-grandchildren, Campbell Grace and Landen Adams of Summerdale, Alabama.

Mama spent the last six months being lovingly and tenderly cared for by David, Debbie, Jessica and JW at Jessica’s and JW’s home in Summerdale. But, we had a lot of wonderful support;

We would like to thank Gentiva Hospice for their excellent staff; they were both professional and compassionate. Our nurse, Melissa, became our friend, sounding board, and nurse. Our aides, Angela, Rachael (Sadiddy), Amber, Ms Edna, Latasha and Latoya were so tender and caring with Mama. The staff, Susan (clergy) was there to remind us to cherish all the little moments with mama and to remember that there is much more than the life that we are living. Kristen (Social Worker) for getting all the help and supplies before us even realized that we would need them.

We would like to thank Comfort Keepers for taking up our slack and doing the hard stuff; Jackie, Jeanette, Melody and Michelle gave us the professional relief we needed.

A very special and heartfelt thank you to Angie, Kasey, and Haley Foley for listening to God’s voice telling them we needed help without us even asking. They spent hours bathing, cleaning, feeding and loving mama.

Thanks to Max Yates for the “letters” you mailed to us.

Thanks to Susan and Eddie Campbell of Sanford, North Carolina for keeping us on your prayer list and for those special cards.

Thanks to Lannie Redman of Dumpfries, Virginia for the frequent phone calls and your caring words.

Thanks to Lisa and Bobby Tynes of Spanish Fort, Alabama for their many visits and to Lisa for her contribution at the service.

Special thanks to the Julian Etheredge family for the many visits and those cakes – thanks for all that food brought over for the family.

A loving thank you to Robert and Victoria for the tender and heartfelt card you sent and the frequent messages.

Thank you Wayne and Patsy Reeves for the phone calls kind words and offer of prayer.

Thanks to Shiloh Baptist Church for the lunch provided after the service.

We received inspiration and strength from visits by:

Kenneth, Kris and Lindy Reeves

Billy Reeves

Maye Ann and Bob Lambert

Jimmie and Merle Reeves

Bobby Sue Stewart

Joey, Joy, Madison and Justin Yates

Lannie, Paul and Paul Robert Redman

Angie, John, Brandon, Benjamin and Finn

Gail Hudson

Mr. Bill

Joy Jackson

Jackie Wolf

Bud Richardson

Thank you to the employees and co-workers at the Mobile Post Office, Gulf Shores Wal-Mart, United Cerebral Palsy and Riviera Utilities.