Carolyn Sue (Cantrell) Wilkes, age 78, of the Scottsboro Community in Nashville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, December 6, 2023, surrounded by her family. She was born on April 20, 1945 and is survived by her husband, Joe Norman Wilkes.
She is survived by her brother, Herbert (Buster) Cantrell; sisters, Ruth Langley and Pam Height; two sons Joe Wilkes II and Teresa Wilkes, Winfield, Alabama and Barry Wilkes and Amy Wilkes, Jacksonville Beach, Florida and niece Danette Wells and Sean Wells, Smyrna, Tennessee; grandchildren, Braden Wilkes, Briley Wilkes, Beckley Wilkes, Morgen Wilkes, Sadie Elizabeth Wells, and Rebecca Addison Wells; great grandchildren, Brooks Harvey and Cutler Dyer. Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, Herbert and Lucille Cantrell; brother, Robert Cantrell; and sister, Irene Allen.
Carolyn had a passion for scratch-off lottery tickets, trips to the casino to play slots puzzles, Scrabble, card games, bowling, painting, reading novels, playing games on her iPad (Words with Friends and Hay Day) but nothing compared to her love of spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren. Her “tell it like it is” personality meant she was truly authentic no matter where she was or who she was with. Over her lifetime, Big Joe and Mama-Carolyn opened their home to people of all ages in the Scottsboro Community. You never knew who would show up, but they were always welcome and well fed. There was always an endless supply of everyone’s favorite candies. Carolyn retired from the State of Tennessee as a Title and Registration Clerk with over 30 years of service. Carolyn was a lifelong member of the Scottsboro Church of Christ.
Funeral service will be Saturday, December 9, 2023, at 3pm in the Chapel of Cheatham County Funeral Home with Brother John Temple officiating. Visitation will be the same day from 1pm until the service hour of 3pm. Burial will be at Woodlawn Cemetery at a later date. One of Carolyn’s favorite pastime memories was the Friday night singing at the Scottsboro Community Center.
In lieu of flowers and gifts, the family requests donations be made to the Scottsboro Community Center in honor of Carolyn Wilkes. Please send donations to: Joe Wilkes II, C/O Scottsboro Community Center, 5025 Ashland City Highway, Nashville, Tennessee 37218. Cheatham County Funeral Home 615-792-2552 on-line condolences at www.cheathamcountyfh.com
