Wilhelmina Sloan, nee Carson, age 93 passed away peacefully Oct. 26, 2011. Wilhelmina, or "Billie" as she was known by her friends and family, was born on Sept. 15, 1918 in Louisville, KY. She graduated from Louisville Municipal College (part of the Univ. of Louisville) in 1938, with majors in math and biology. After beginning her teaching career in Louisville, she married John S. Sloan, in 1943 in Tuskegee, AL. When John went into combat as a fighter pilot with the 332nd airborne, "Billie" resumed teaching. When John returned, the couple relocated to Chicago. In 1945 they joined the Good Shepherd Church where they remained active throughout their lives. Wilhelmina returned to teaching at Hyde Park Academy, where she spent 22 years. At Hyde Park she taught math, was Math Department Chair and devoted her last 10 years to counseling. "Billie" served both her church and community in a variety of ways, as Deaconess, Church Clerk, Co-Chair of Easter Tea and with the Girl Scouts. A member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, she was also active in several social clubs and was co-host with John in their 50's radio show "Supper with the Sloans". After her retirement in 1980, she volunteered at Michael Reese hospital. Wilhelmina's warm smile and quiet sense of humor will be missed by family, friends, colleagues and former students alike. Preceded in death by her parents, William and Emma (White) Carson; her husband; and her sister, Louise (Carson) Smith. She is survived by daughter, Linda Sloan Locke; son, John S. Sloan, Jr. (Brenda); grandsons, James Karamo and Jason Locke and John III and Justin Sloan; grand-daughters, Andrea Locke-Perot and Jessica Sloan; she will also be remembered by her eight great-grandchildren, life long friend Willa Brown and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives around the country. Memorial Services will be held at The Church of The Good Shepherd, 57th and Prairie Ave., Chicago, on Saturday, Dec. 3, at 11:30 a.m. Visiting will precede the service at 10 a.m. Funeral arrangements are by Unity Funeral Parlors. Donations in honor of Mrs. Sloan's life can be made to the Scholarship Fund, Good Shepherd Church; or The Delta Foundation: www.deltasigmatheta.org. Condolences/remembrances can be placed on Lecacy.com.

Published in Chicago Tribune on Nov. 27, 2011