Willow Dula Carter was born to the late Rufus McKinley Dula and Alberta Daisy Michaux Dula in Lenoir, North Carolina on June 21,1928. She was educated by her very own Grandpa Ed until her cousin Athy took over in the new two room school she attended. Willow attended Freedman High School in Lenoir and she always said she was one of Mr. Ervin's best students.

Wilma, as she later became known, married the late Fred Colbert in 1945 and the couple made their home in Dulatown, the heart of the Caldwell County community. "Wilma" and Fred were favored with the birth of one daughter Gwendolyn Grace two years later.

"Wilma" traveled between Lenoir, Detroit and Greensboro after her marriage to Fred ended. She and her second husband (1963), Thurman "Sonny" Cater, Jr., made their home in the Burke County community of Heartland. Decades later, they adopted an infant daughter, Tamela Deanette.

A woman who wore many hats, Mrs. Willow Dula Carter served communities in Morganton and Lenoir as an ordained Methodist minister, an owner and operator of Wright's Mortuary of Morganton, and a Past Matron of Ruth Chapter #571 Order of Eastern Star.

Having a desire to be closer to her daughters and grandchildren whom she dearly loved, Willow relocated to Winston-Salem after retirement from the furniture industry in Lenoir. While in Winston-Salem, Willow furthered her education and pursued yet another career as a private duty nurse. Her late husband, Thurman, soon joined Willow to make Winston-Salem their new home.

With praise on her lips and joy in her heart, Willow proclaimed her love of God and her Christian faith everywhere she went. Dulatown Presbyterian Church of Lenoir was her home church, but while in Winston-Salem, she affiliated with Cleveland Avenue Christian Church, Green Street Baptist Church and Praise Assembly Church Ministries. She served as a member of the clergy at NC Baptist Hospital and was known for reading scriptures and singing hymns and spirituals.

Willow was preceded in death by her mother and father; two husbands; four brothers, Herman Dula, James Dula, Richard Dula, and Fredrick Dula, Sr.; four sisters Rematha Dula, Sadie Dula Isabel Berry, Jewel Dula Johnson and Geraldine Dula; and one grandson, Fred McKinley Johnson. She leaves to cherish her memories two daughters, Gwendolyn (Norman) Lytle, Tamela Miller; one brother, Stephen Dula, eleven grandchildren, Stephanie Colbert, Aliesha (Van) Oakes, Lesley (Barbara) Johnson, Ine (Cheryl) Johnson, Joy (Desmond) Thomas, Nequae Evans, Joshua Lytle, Jovaughn Miller, Queen Bash, Ricka Stowe and William Stowe; forty-one great-grandchildren, six great-great grandchildren, a devoted Goddaughter, Doris Butler, a devoted cousin, Betty Boston, several nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be conducted at 1:30pm Friday May 20, 2022 at Dulatown Presbyterian Church. Interment will follow in Dulatown Community Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:00pm-1:30pm at the church. A public viewing will be held Thursday May 19, 2022 from 12pm-7pm at the funeral home where the family will receive friends from 5pm-7pm.