Wilma Locklear

Ms. Wilma E. Locklear, age 86, of Lumberton, North Carolina, gained her heavenly wings on Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026.  She was born on August 26, 1939, to the late John Archie and Roberta Locklear.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her four sisters: Mary Ann Locklear, Juanita Oxendine, Nora Locklear, and Evelyn Locklear.

Wilma leaves to cherish her memory her loving children, Phillis Clark (Barney), Nicky Locklear (Deborah) of Lumberton, and Mark Locklear of the home. She was a proud grandmother to Sherry Byrd (Chris), Anita Jacobs (Aubrey), and Nicky Camby (Keith). She was also blessed with great-grandchildren whom she loved dearly: Taner and Tyler Jacobs (fiancée Ashley), Blake, Callie, and Cammie Byrd, Tamara Locklear, and Keith Camby Jr.  She is also survived by her brothers, Merle Locklear and Johnny Locklear of Pembroke, North Carolina, and her sisters, Alice Scott of St. Pauls, North Carolina, Ludy Jacobs of Hope Mills, North Carolina, Jan Bullard and Dina Jacobs of Pembroke, North Carolina, and Demetrice Locklear of Pembroke, North Carolina, along with a vast number of nieces, nephews, and extended family members.

Wilma dedicated over 30 years of service to Converse, where she worked on the making line and built many lifelong friendships. In 1986, she and her husband Ray were blessed with a once-in-a-lifetime experience when Converse selected them for an all-expenses-paid trip to the Olympic Games in Los Angeles, California, a memory they cherished and shared often.

Wilma was the heart of her family—a strong, loving woman who always put others before herself. From a young age, she cared for and protected her siblings, and throughout her life, she remained the one everyone could depend on. If anyone was sick or in need, she would load them into her white Ford Torino and head straight to the doctor—no matter the time or day.

She was also the after-school homework teacher for Taner, Tyler, and Blake, making sure lessons were learned-even on days when Tyler and Blake inherited Grandpa Ray's trait for a little extra snickering. While she was full of love, she also had a firm way about her—she would "tear you out the frame" when needed-because she believed in doing right and raising her family with strength and discipline.

She found joy in life's simple moments-especially singing songs with her sisters, spending time with family, and sharing laughter with those she loved. In her later years, as her family cared for her, it reflected the same love she had poured into others for so many years.

Wilma loved her church, Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and faithfully served as a dedicated member of the WMU. She had a servant's heart-preparing and delivering meals to shut-ins and those in need throughout the community. During Christmas, she found special joy in adopting residents at local assisted living facilities, making sure each one received gifts and toiletry essentials. She cherished singing her favorite Christmas songs, creating memories that will live on in the hearts of many. Her faith never wavered, and her love for the Lord Jesus Christ was evident in the life she lived and the way she cared for others.

What a glorious reunion it must have been in Heaven as she was welcomed home by Jesus, her beloved husband Ray, her parents, her sisters, and many loved ones and neighbors who had gone before her. Wilma was a constant in our lives, a guiding light and a source of strength. She was our lighthouse, always shining through the fog.

Her love and legacy will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her.

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