Holly Fletcher Wilson

HOMELAND- Holly Fletcher Wilson was born February 21, 1952, in Bartow, Florida to her parents Ralph J. and Nancy K. Fletcher. She died surrounded by her family at her home in Homeland, Florida, on July 8, 2021. Growing up in Bartow, she attended Floral Avenue Elementary School, Bartow Junior High School, and graduated from Bartow Senior High in 1970. She went on to graduate from Polk Junior College and the University of Florida with a degree in Education. She subsequently received her Master's Degree in Guidance from the University of South Florida. For thirty years she was employed by the Polk County School Board as a teacher and a guidance counselor, spending most of her career as the guidance counselor at Floral Avenue Elementary where she first attended school. Following her retirement, Holly served as a volunteer, mentoring students at the school. Holly was active in various organizations in her community, including serving as President of both the Junior Service League and the local Gator Club. For years she assisted in the organization of Bartow’s annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade, to the extent any organization existed, for what has come to be known as the “unparade.” She was active in the Bartow Chamber of Commerce and the Bartow Needlework Guild, and she was a life-long member of Bartow’s Holy Trinity Episcopal Church. Holly loved deeply the children she taught and mentored, her family and friends, and the Florida Gators, having held season football tickets for over forty years. She also had a strong sense of our obligation to do what was right, and a sharp intolerance for whatever she saw as unjust or unfair. She was an advocate for those she perceived as victims of such injustice and mistreatment. She wanted the world to be a better place. Holly is survived by her husband of thirty-seven years, Donald H. Wilson, her sisters Julie Fletcher (Marty McCurdy) and Amy Fletcher (Colleen O’Connor), and her brother Casey Fletcher (Sylvia Fletcher), together with many nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. The family expresses their deep appreciation for all those who provided support and assistance for Holly during her illness. A memorial service will be held at Bartow’s Holy Trinity Episcopal Church on Thursday, July 15, at 4:00 pm. Following the service, family and friends are invited to the Wilson’s home in Homeland. In lieu of flowers, contributions to a local charity are suggested. A scholarship endowment has been established in Holly’s memory to provide college scholarships for students who attended Floral Avenue Elementary School. Contributions for this endowment may be made to the Polk Education Foundation, Inc., 1350 Shumate Drive, Bartow, Florida 33830 (Memo: Holly Wilson Scholarship).