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Karen Elliott Wilson, 48, of Lake Park, formerly of Bainbridge, passed away Monday, October 28, 2024.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at Pine Forest Baptist Church with Dr. Jim McIntosh officiating. Interment will follow at Pine Forest Baptist Church Cemetery with Christopher Bryant, Rex Wade III, Lloyd Story III, Edward Peirce, Will Peirce, and Perry Henry serving as active pallbearers.

The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Online visitors may sign the guest register at www.bryantfuneralga.com. Memorial donations may be made to Pine Forest Baptist Church, 104 Pine Forest Road, Bainbridge, GA 39819 or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105. www.stjude.org/donate

Karen Alaina Elliott was born January 7, 1976, in Bainbridge, the daughter of Don & Carolyn Ezell Elliott. She was a graduate of Bainbridge High School, Class of 1994, and Albany State University with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. Karen married the love of her life, Richard Wilson, in 1997. She was an active member of Pine Forest Baptist Church.

Karen had a quiet and creative spirit. She was loved by all, especially her students and their families. Her heart of gold symbolized the compassion she felt for others, always putting them first. As a woman of faith, Karen led by example, never complained, always found the good in not-so-good situations, and loved unconditionally.

She was an avid reader, a talented artist, played piano & saxophone, and penned thoughts into words touching her audience with their poignancy. Teaching was her passion, but nurturing was her gift. Students at Jones-Wheat in Bainbridge and W.G. Nunn in Valdosta were left with a loving imprint on their hearts as they began their school journeys.

Her big heart spilled over into a love for animals. She enjoyed watching her baby ducks and kittens explore the world and grow into “adults”. She was known to stop in the middle of the road to help turtles cross and probably said a few encouraging words along the way.

Family was her most precious gift. Karen’s never-ending support for every endeavor or idea did not go unnoticed. She followed Wyatt and Kailyn to every ball field and offered motivating words for anything they thought they wanted to try. She loved watching her own babies spread their wings and fly, encouraging them through college and their first jobs in the working world like only she could. Food, family, and fellowship filled her best days, and every cake ball, cheese ball, and pan of dressing at Thanksgiving will have to live up to the standard she set.

Survivors include her husband of 27 years, Richard Wilson; her children, Wyatt Wilson of Williston, SC and Kailyn Wilson of Lake Park; her parents, Don & Carolyn Elliott; her sister, Sharon E. Henry and her husband, Perry; and her niece, Haylee Henry.

Bryant Funeral Home, located at 105 N. Florida Street, is assisting the family with arrangements. (229-246-3321)