Carolyn Wilson Gilbert was born on August 24, 1949, to the late Robert and Daisy Wilson in Warrenton, GA. She made number eight out of ten children. In 1954, Robert and Daisy moved their family to Miami, FL. Carolyn graduated from Miami Northwestern in 1968 (yep…she was a Bull). She received Christ at an early age at Greater New Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of the late Reverend Roscoe Jackson. Carolyn came from a huge family of eleven brothers and sisters.

 

Carolyn became a part of the Telecommunications family at AT&T (later became Southern Bell then Bell South). During her time with the company, she became a Union Rep for several years, which she truly enjoyed. She retired after over 35 years of service. She was known as a Community Activist. She held a position with Girl Scouts as Assistant Troop Leader for eight years under the Troop Leader the late Loretta Kennedy, she was Executive Board Member for the Coalition Black Unionists (CBTU) also for several years. Let’s not forget that she was Vice President of THE Mighty Marching Band of Miami Carol City Sr. High, (sshhh…she was a Chief at heart).  

 

On one cool day in October of 1968, Carolyn saw the love of her life, the late Frederick “Fred” Gilbert at Southern Farm where she worked as a Cashier, Fred worked part-time as a Security Guard. From that day forth they were inseparable until his untimely death in March of 2019. They wedded in Holy Matrimony on September 30, 1976. They collectively have four beautiful children. Though she held some rewarding positions her true passion was cooking, baking (especially those buttermilk pies, and them Holy Ghost filled sweet potato pies, for her family and friends, and traveling around the world. Carolyn would affectionately say “I might not have any money to give you, but I can cook you a meal”.  

 

One thing about Carolyn Gilbert, she loved the Lord with all her heart. She kept hands working in God’s Vineyard. She was a member of Greater New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Dr. G. Horton, where she sung in the Mass Choir, until the Lord led her to move her membership to New Hope Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Bishop Randall Holts, she served in the Tabernacle for several years until God placed on her heart to continue working for his Kingdom at Greater Love Missionary Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Dwayne Richardson. She taught Youth Sunday School, worked on the Pastors Care Department, and became ordained as a Deaconess. Carolyn’s work was done at Greater Love, and she moved her membership in 2014 to Upper Room Ministries under the leadership of Bishop Marc Cooper until her health started to fail. May the work for the Kingdom of God that she has done speak for her!  

 

She was preceded in death by her father and mother, Robert and Daisy Wilson; husband, Fred Gilbert; brothers, Charlie Wilson, Ernest Wilson, Edward Wilson, and Willie Harold; sister, Irene Leonard.  

 

She leaves to cherish her memory: sons, Tarrant Gilbert (Chere’) and Corwin Gilbert; daughters, Desiree Gilbert-Lewis (Willie) and Nekesia “Nikki” Robinson (Samuel); Honorary Daughters, Mable Whitaker (Terence) and Sheryl Wilson Lemon (Vernon); sisters, Annette Rolle and Margaret Poole; brothers, Hersey “HB” Wilson and Lorenzo Wilson (Loraine); 20 grandchildren, 12 great-grands; best friends, Beulah Simmons, Annette Williams, and Diana Smith; a host of loving nieces, nephews, god-children, relatives and friends.