Dorothy Wilson

Dorothy Ann Willard Wilson, 91 years old, of Jonesboro, Arkansas, died peacefully on June 1,
2023. She was born on April 1, 1932, in Independence, Missouri, to the late Major Leland H. and
Julia Frances Crockett Willard. After the untimely death of her mother, Julia, Dorothy at age 14,
along with her two brothers, David and Byron, moved to the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home in
Monroe, Louisiana. While a resident of the Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, Dorothy
graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in 1950. In 1952, she married Claud James Irby,
Jr. They were married for 21 years and had five children together. In 1978, she married Dr. FM
Wilson. They shared their life and families together until his death in December 2015.

Dorothy became a registered nurse in 1955 after studying at Northwestern State College in
Louisiana. In 1979, she obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from Arkansas State
University and in 1990, a Master of Nursing Science degree from the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences. Dorothy worked as a nurse at hospitals in California, Louisiana, Mississippi, and
Arkansas and in health-related fields such as public health, hospital staff, emergency,
orthopedics, obstetrics, pediatrics, urology, coronary care, surgery and surgical nursing. She
taught in the nursing department at Arkansas State University, served as a hospital coordinator,
and was a case manager for George W. Jackson Mental Health Center in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
She was a member of the American Nurses Association; past president of the Arkansas Alliance
for the Mentally Ill—Help and Hope, Inc., NE AR Chapter; and a member of the Daughters of the
American Revolution. Dorothy was a long time member of Central Baptist Church and in later
years, Faith Free Will Baptist Church of Jonesboro. Both congregations loved her and helped see
after her. She loved them and cherished her time in both churches, studying God’s word and
fellowshipping with them.

Mom, Grandma, G.G. was a loving mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, sister, wife, friend,
teacher, nurse, and many other roles she played in so many lives. She never judged anyone
based on their past. She saw people’s hearts and accepted them for who they were. She listened
to their stories and if she said she would be there for someone she meant it. She prayed for
people that others said couldn’t be helped. She was an artist. She danced, sang, traveled, played
the piano, guitar and harmonica. She loved tent camping, gardening and having picnics. She was
an amazing cook and seamstress! Most of all, she loved the Lord with all her heart. She loved
God’s Word and read it daily. She taught her children the blessed hope of The Lord Jesus and
how He came to earth to save us and help carry us through the life we’ve been given. She was a
role-model and mentor. We shall all aspire to live up to her legacy.

Dorothy was preceded in death by her parents and her brothers Byron Keith and David Lee
Willard, and husband of 37 years, Dr. F. M. Wilson. Dorothy is survived by her children Dana Irby
Stearns (Rick) of Little Rock, AR; Paul Willard Irby (Jeanise) of West Plains, MO; Leland
McCharen Irby of Benton, AR; Laura Rachel McDonald (Steve) of Cordova, TN; and Mary
Florence Carr (Terrell) of Bono, AR; ten grandchildren; sixteen great-grandchildren; and nephew
Danny Willard of Denver, CO, all of whom loved her and will miss her dearly. Dorothy was a
faithful friend to many over the years, maintaining close contact with those in the Louisiana

Baptist Children’s Home, Arkansas State University, the Jonesboro area, the medical and art
fields, and church memberships.

With Emerson Funeral Home of Jonesboro directing services, visitation will be held at Faith Free
Will Baptist Church, 1008 East Highland Drive, Jonesboro, Arkansas on Saturday, June 10, 2023
from 10:00am-11:00am with services following at 11:00am. Burial will follow the service at
Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery with the active pallbearers being Dr. Claud Irby, Leland Irby,
Rick Stearns, Terrell Carr, Steve McDonald, Adam Sartin, Aaron Stearns, David Carr and Michael
Carr. Honorary pallbearers are Paul Irby, Carl Wilson, Lewis Wilson, Morgan Wilson, Reid Wilson,
Andy Newton, Zach Grimes, John Vincent Hilario, Taylor Ferguson and Danny Willard. The family
requests memorial tributes be directed to The Louisiana Baptist Children’s Home, Post Office
Box 4196, Monroe, LA 71211.