It all began in Muskogee, Oklahoma, when Carl Alonzo Wilkerson, Jr., was born on the Third day of March, 1982. Affectionately referred to as "Junior" by his family, Carl was raised in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, taking his place in the family as the second of seven children.

Also known as "Vocab" by many of his friends, Carl attended Gateway and Britton Elementary Schools, Harding Middle School and John Marshall High School, graduating with the Class of 2000. He furthered his education after high school at Oklahoma City Community College.

Carl was involved in many activities while attending school. During his Sophomore year, he served as a Page for the Senate at the Oklahoma State Capitol. He was also the Mascot for the John Marshall High School Bears as well as a member of the R.O.T.C.

In his leisure time, Carl enjoyed kick boxing, dancing, drawing, free style rapping and was one degree away from earning his Black Belt in Karate.

Carl was a former employee of Foley's Department Store at Penn Square Mall and at the time of his death, he was employed by the Aspen Athletic Club as a personal trainer.

During the summer of 1996, Carl was baptized and filled with the Holy Ghost at the Greater First Deliverance Temple, where he was a member for two years. In 1998, He joined Britton Christian Church, where he participated in the youth program, Higher Ground. From 2002 until his illness, he taught various youth groups at City Church. His final wishes were to return to Greater First Deliverance Temple.

"Vocab's" passion for music and dance was apparent to everyone who knew him. He was well known throughout Oklahoma City. He was blessed with a charismatic spirit and with the gift of making people laugh. In spite of his illness, his steadfast spirit inspired many to stay in the race. He never met a stranger and everyone that met him truly loved him.

It was on Monday evening, September 5, 2006, when Carl Alonzo Wilkerson, Jr., in his 24th Year, dozed into the tranquil slumber of Eternal life, with his loving family near his side, from Mercy Health Center in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Those that remain to wait on the Lord; his loving parents, Carl and Debbie Wilkerson, Sr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, his mother, Fayetta Wilkerson, Detroit, Michigan; two sisters, Melodi Carpenter, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Ashley Wilkerson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; four brothres, Jaamal Wilkerson, Maryland, Robert Carpenter, II, Joshua Carpenter and Christian Wilkerson, all of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his grandparents, Pandora Wilkerson, Muskogee, Oklahoma, H.L. and Shirley Wright, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Lorene Sanders, Muskogee, Oklahoma; his close friend, Phantashia Presley; a unique group of brothers known as Exodus, all of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and a caravan of other relatives, friends and church family who will forever cherish his legacy.

The Celebratory Worship Service celebrating "Vocab's" life will be held on Saturday, September 9, 2006 at 11:00 A.M. in the sanctuary of Greater First Deliverance Temple, 2101 North Bryant Avenue in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The Senior Pastor, Dr. Vanuel C. Little, Sr., will Preside. The Christian Committal will follow in Arlington Memory Gardens in Midwest City.

You may visit Carl, as he slumbers at the Keith D. Biglow Funeral Directors, Inc., in Muskogee on Thursday from 3 PM to 6:30 PM and on Friday at McKay-Davis Mortuary, Inc., 1616 NE 36th Street in Oklahoma City.