Annie Lou Carr

We can never lose what we have once enjoyed; all that we deeply love becomes part of us, such as the beautiful memories we all share of Annie Lou Carr. She was born on Thursday, September 13, 1932, to Paul and Mattie Lock Wilson in Sparkman, Arkansas.

At a young age, Annie accepted Christ and was baptized. She attended Sparkman Training School and excelled as a student. Annie Lou met the handsome Percy Thomason “Cantaloupe” Carr, and after a period of courtship, they were married on Saturday, May 17, 1958. They were married for 55 years until his passing on Sunday, May 19, 2013 just two days after their anniversary. After making their home in Dalark, she united with Mt. Olive AME Church where she served as a Stewardess and as an Usher for over 50 years.

While maintaining a full-time job at Ouachita Baptist University, “Ann Lou” and “Cantaloupe” operated Carr Grocery and Café for many years. After retiring from OBU, they decided to close the store and enjoy the fruits of their labor. Ann Lou was known for making some of the best hot water cornbread.

As she aged and her health declined, she moved to Courtyards Gardens during the summer of 2020. She eventually adjusted, but never lost her love for returning home to Dalark. Her raspy voice and laugh were her trademark. She loved to snack on tuna fish sandwiches, all types of sweets, especially Milky Way candy bars.

After years of a good life, she traded time for eternity and passed peacefully while she slept on Monday, September 18, 2023, just five days after her 91st birthday. She was preceded in death by her parents, Paul Wilson (1979) and Mattie Lock Wilson (2004); her husband, Percy T. Carr (2013); siblings, Shandria Matlock (1994), I.V. Wilson (1997), Leo Wilson (1994), J.D. Wilson (2006), Willie Wilson (2014), and Eddie Wilson (2009); a stepson, Larry Quarles. and a special nephew, James Matlock.

“Ann Lou” leaves an indelible imprint in the hearts of her sister, Mary Wilson Wilson Jones of Milwaukee, WI; a bonus grandson, Dondre Burroughs of Wayne, MI; two godchildren, Diane Epps of Little Rock, AR, and Samuel Ankton of Ypsilanti, MI; She leaves nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, Ronnie Quarles, Dorothy Delamar, and Ermatine Johnson; several other friends and the Mt. Olive AME Church family.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 28, 2023, at Williams Funeral Home. A Celebration of her life will be shared at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, September 29, 2023, at Mt. Olive AME Church with Pastor TheResa Ngantchie, eulogist. The interment will be at Piney Grove Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Travis Epps, Nicholas Epps, David Hall, Samuel Harrison, and Dennis Nelson. Honorary Pallbearers will be Lynn Jackson, Albert Neal, Randy Quarles, Henry Wilson, Jerry Ankton, Sam Ankton, and Bobby Neal.