The Hancock-Henderson Quill, Inc.


Meet Your Neighbor

by Jenna Clayton, Quill Reporter

Meet your neighbor Debra Wilson. She was born and raised in Carthage.

She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Calhoun.

Her childhood was very interesting because her father was the sexton of the cemetery. She remembers that the thrill of Halloween made it her favorite holiday. Memories of sledding down the big hills in winter fill her childhood.

Wilson graduated from Carthage High School in 1974, one year after she was married to her husband Merlin. She and her husband have many children, never an exact number because they raise foster children. They adopted two children that started out as foster children one of whom is in the military.

Wilson doesn't have any grandchildren but does have a "grand-dog" named Beck. She treats her "grand-dog" just like a grandchild and spoils him every chance she gets. Beck is Wilson's "pride and joy".

Wilson's hobbies include; reading, visiting her daughters in Chicago, baking and collecting cookbooks. She attends Elveston Presbyterian Church where she is the Sunday school teacher. She was the head of Hamilton's music boosters program for four years, and is now the secretary for Dr. Lewis, Illini West's Assistant Principal. Wilson has her hands full with the many, many different jobs her position requires. She takes care of transportation, answering lots of phone calls, and is the cafeteria secretary.

She is very proud of all her children and what they have accomplished.