Winifred Ray Wheat, better known as "Winnie", "Miss Winnie" or "Fred", was born on April 24, 1941, in a house on Virginia Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky to George Andrew Carson, Sr. and Mary Ellen Carson. She was the second of three children. The family lived in California for a couple of years because her dad was in the United States Navy. She attended public school and graduated from Louisville Central High School in 1959 and was a member of the National Honor Society. Winnie was responsible for organizing class reunions, which included cruises and other various social functions.

Winnie accepted Christ at an early age and was an active member of Phillips Memorial Christian Methodist Episcopal Church until she experienced health challenges. Winnie learned how to play the piano and assisted her mom during communion services. She held several positions at the church including church secretary, choir member, church historian, and served as a delegate to many conferences. She was a part of the Missionary Society in the Louisville-Lexington District. She was very well known throughout the district.

Prior to graduating, Winnie married Roosevelt Roberts. This union lasted seven years and brought forth two daughters, TuWana and Tanya. After graduating from high school, she started working at Louisville General Hospital on third shift. She met Robert L. Wheat, better known as "Slick" and they were married on July 6, 1991. They were married for 32 years prior to his death in 2022.

Winnie worked at the Church almost everyday with her sister and mother while living in Kentucky. They did everything from meeting contractors to doing shopping for special events for the Church. Winnie was happiest when she was helping others. As the church secretary, Winnie published the church bulletin weekly, church anniversary programs, and home-going programs. She read the church announcements weekly during morning service and sang in the senior choir and the Gospelaires and many other special choirs on the local or district level. Also, Winnie sang with the family choir known as the Related Echoes of Harmony.

Winnie retired from the United States Census Bureau in December 1999, after 35 years of service. She said she wanted to be retired before the year 2000. She started as a key punch operator and ended her career as a Supervisory Statistical Assistant. In November 1999, in Washington, D. C., she was awarded the Bronze Medal Award from the United States Department of Commerce for leadership in the performance of numerous operations and widely varying projects in the

Statistical Methods and Quality Assurance Branch of the National Processing Center and service to the Census Bureau for more than 34 years.

On Thursday, September 12, 2024, Winnie transitioned to Heaven peacefully at home with family in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is survived by daughters, TuWana J. Roberts and Tanya R. Cook (L. Duane); Grandson, Duane I. Cook; sister, Charlotte Y. Payne; brother George A. Carson, Jr. (Christine); uncle, Joe L. Ray, Sr.; brother in law, David Wheat (Patience); niece, Fowziyyah Nasir (Asad); nephew, Major Bell, Jr.; nephew, Corey Carson (Erica); a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

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