Wilma Townsend was born May 23, 1924 in Sylacauga, AL to the union of Willie and Melinda Baker.
She grew up in Sylacauga, and joined the Pine Hill Seventh Day Adventist Church at a young age and grew steadily in the Lord.
She was a graduate of East Highland School, class of 1954. Later,she married Allen Jordan who died a few years after their marriage.Wilma, eventually move to Chicago, IL, where she met and married Leo Townsend. He too preceded her in death. She adopted Earlene and Terry Townsend when they were very young.Following Leo’s death, Wilma went to college and received an associate degree in Early Childhood Education. She taught at Shiloh Seventh Day Adventist Academy until her retirement.
Wilma loved children and spent a lot of time singing and doing finger gestures to any child who would listen. Her love for children extended beyond her raising her only grandson, Christopher Allen Townsend. She also raised Lynn’s daughter, Crystal, as her own. Unfortunately, they were not available during her time of bereavement. She was a lover of life and people, gave freely to all without compensation or recognition. Wilma was a beautiful person, inside and out.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Leo Townsend, her brother, Clarence Baker Sr., her daughter, Earlene Townsend Bilbrew, and her niece, Regina Dale Baker.
She is survived by her son, Terry Lynn (Eula) Townsend, grandson, Christopher Allen Lynn Townsend, great granddaughter, Crystal Murray Falls, great great grandchildren, Kalonea and Jalen Murray Falls, and goddaughter, B. Jean McGhee; and a host of other relatives and friends.
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