Featured obituary: Mrs. Coren Wilson

A tough but beloved Richmond County elementary school principal lost a long battle with cancer Saturday, a few days shy of the first day of school.

Coren Wilson, 51, principal of Meadowbrook Elementary School, died at Doctors Hospital in Augusta. Monday would have marked the start of her fourth year as principal of the school.

"Naturally, we're all shocked by her passing," said Dr. Charles Larke, the superintendent of the Richmond County schools.

"She was a great principal, a great educator, and I'm certain she will be missed," he said. "It is a great loss for the system, without a doubt."

Dr. Larke said school officials will have counseling and psychological services ready if they are needed Monday for staff and pupils.

"It's going to be tough enough, being the first day of school," he said.

Mrs. Wilson's husband of 30 years, Boisie Wilson Jr., said that though she could seem tough at first, she loved teaching and nurturing children.

"She might have seemed like she was harsh," he said. "If she rubbed someone the wrong way, though, once they got to know her, she was respected."

"She said her biggest joy was little kids," Mr. Wilson said. "We were out one day, and one of them said, 'That's Mrs. Wilson! She knows everybody!' She made a point of learning all of their names."

Mr. Wilson said very few people knew that Mrs. Wilson had cancer, or that she had battled it for nearly 13 years, undergoing chemotherapy.

"But it didn't stop her," he said. "She thought that if she let it slow her down, it would win."

"She made it her mission that Meadowbrook was ready for this school year," he said, recounting that Mrs. Wilson was deeply involved in preparations for the start of school until the very end.

"She really didn't miss time from work," her husband said.

Mr. Wilson said his wife also leaves a legacy of now-grown-up former students from her days as assistant principal at Murphey Middle School, and as a science and math teacher at Lucy C. Laney and T.W. Josey comprehensive high schools.

"The kids would come back, and say, 'When you were a teacher at Josey or Murphey, I'm glad you were that way. Now I'm an operating technician or an engineer,'" Mr. Wilson said.

"I wish that I could have had that kind of impact," he said.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete Saturday and will be announced later.

To those who mourn Monday as school starts without Mrs. Wilson, what would she say?

"Keep focused," Mr. Wilson said. "Just remember the plans she put forth. Just strive to excel."

Reach Jeremy Craig at (706) 823-3409 or jeremy.craig@augustachronicle.com.