Caroline Wilson

Caroline Lord Wilson, 97, of Atlanta, Georgia died peacefully in her sleep January 14, 2025, and was gathered to her people. Born November 28, 1928, she grew up in Pooler, GA and moved to Savannah in High School. She graduated from Savannah High School in 1946 then attended Armstrong Junior college where she met James Eugene Wilson, a handsome WW2 veteran. She was the love of his life, and he was hers. They were married September 6th, 1947 and moved to Atlanta where he went to Emory Law School, getting a Doctorate in Law.

After their children were born and in school, she hung up her stay-at-home-mom apron and returned to college, getting a Bachelors of Arts at Georgia State University. There she was a member of Mu Rho Sigma, a sorority for married women, maintaining many of these friendships for the rest of her life. She was also a member of the Crimson Key, an honorary society which is a chapter of Mortar Board. Continuing at Georgia State, she got her Masters in Education.

Caroline was a teacher at DeKalb County elementary schools until she reached 80. She was very loved by her students, some of whom kept in touch with her through the years.

She loved to travel and has been to 40 countries spread over 5 continents. She has walked on the Great Wall of China, rode a camel in Morocco, was baptized in the Jordon River in Israel, climbed the ruins in Machu Pichu, Peru, explored Ukraine, strolled through St Petersburg Square in Russia, has been to Iceland to see the Northern Lights and sat on Santa's lap at the North Pole in Finland. She loved to share her adventures with her Geography and History classes.

And at the age of 93, Caroline WON the Peachtree Road Race...in her category of Women 90+ and received a big Olympic-worthy medal for bragging rights. She was accompanied by four other generations of her family, so there were FIVE generations who finished the race together. And in 2025, at 96, she was the oldest person to complete the Peachtree Road Race; she also won First Place for her age group of Women 95-99.

Caroline was married for 62 years, and her husband Gene Wilson preceded her in death. Her parents Iverson H. Lord and Willie Lord and her brother Iverson H. Lord, Jr. and sister Betty Lord Bonsal also preceded her in death.

She is survived by a brother William (Bill) Lord and three children: Caroline Metzel, Elizabeth Hudetz and James Eugene Wilson, Jr.

She is survived by 4 grandchildren: Christie Rodgers, Maggie Lipman, Previn Hudetz and Aria Hudetz. She was preceded in death by grandson Hollis Hudetz.

She is survived by 9 great grandchildren, Curtiss Cavitt, Jacob Rodgers, Sarah Rodgers, Brandon Rodgers, Lauren Lipman, Eleanor Lipman, Ananda Hudetz, Cyrus Hudetz and Asher Hudetz.

She is survived by 2 great - great grandchildren, Finley Cavitt and Rowan Cavitt.

Caroline has been in church her whole life, starting with Pooler First Baptist Church as a baby, where her parents were active members. She was currently a member of Bridgepoint Church, previously Clairmont Hills Baptist Church, since 1992.

Pallbearers will be Jim Wilson, Alan Metzel, Robert Wilson, Curtiss Cavitt, Previn Hudetz, and Jacob Rodgers.

Family and friends will gather Friday January 23, 2026 from 9 AM until 11 AM at Bridgepoint Church at Toco Hills, 1995 Clairmont Rd. Decatur, GA 30033. Funeral service will be follow at 11:00 AM. Interment will be held Saturday January 24, 2026 at Bonaventure Cemetery, 330 Bonadventure Rd. Savannah, GA 31404, at 9:30 AM.

In lieu of flowers the family asks that you make a contribution to a charity that helps children, in memory of Caroline's life's work in teaching. Two charities that she supported were: St. Jude Children's Hospital and Samaritan's Purse (which provides Christmas shoeboxes of gifts to impoverished children worldwide.)