Tonya Michelle (Powell) Wilson

Tonya Michelle Powell Wilson, 51, of Grand Prairie, Texas and formerly of Amarillo, Texas, our daughter, sister, wife, mother, and friend to many, received her wings on Friday, June 20, 2025, and is now with our Heavenly Father. May she rest in total peace.

She was born in Taylor, Williamson County, Texas, to Gentry Wayne, Jr., and Rosie Lee Johnson Powell. Tonya and her family resided in Bartlett, Williamson County, Texas, and at the early age of five years old, she was baptized at Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church. She was a member of Greater Mount Olive Baptist Church, located in Amarillo, Texas, and a current member of St. John Church Unleased, located in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Tonya attended Bartlett Grammar School and when her family moved to their new home in Amarillo, Texas, she continued her education at Whittier Elementary School, Travis Junior. High School, and Palo Duro High School. While in high school, Tonya, enjoyed cheerleading. As a high school senior, she was crowned "Miss Juneteenth of Amarillo.” She earned the title by performing a beautiful rendition of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s “I Have a Dream" speech. After Tonya graduated from Palo Duro High School in 1992, she attended Texas Tech University, in Lubbock, Texas, receiving her bachelor’s degree in Family Studies. Later, she earned her master’s degree in social work, Master of Social Work at the University of Texas at Arlington.

During her time at Texas Tech University, Tonya was highly active on campus. She became a member of the Alpha Kappa Alpha (AKA) Sorority, Inc., Chapter Zeta Tau and performed countless community activities. As an AKA, Tonya would develop so many life-long friendships and relationships, yet none would be as loving and more rewarding as the one she developed with her husband, Mark Wilson. Tonya and Mark met on the campus of Texas Tech University. Their three-year relationship would inevitably lead to a marriage proposal, a storybook wedding, and the building of a beautiful life together.

Tonya Michelle Powell and Mark Anthony Wilson wed on October 3, 1998. They celebrated 26 years of marriage together. They welcomed two beautiful daughters, Kennedy Loreal Wilson and Kamryn Gabrielle Wilson.

They would see their dreams fulfilled with both daughters enjoying high school and university honors on the basketball court. Kennedy and Kamryn earned full basketball scholarships to the colleges of their choice. Kennedy received her master’s degree in science and learning technology and design from Houston Baptist University and Kamryn is presently a sophomore attending Lamar University. Both are eternally the "heartbeats" of Tonya and Mark's lives.

In 1998, Tonya would begin an illustrious and lifelong career with the Federal Bureau of Prisons. As a student trainee, Tonya worked in Case Management at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth, Texas. In 1999, she was promoted to full-time status as a case manager, where she worked until 2008, at the Federal Medical Center Carswell, Fort Worth, Texas. In the same year, Tonya was promoted to assistant case management coordinator at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth, Texas. In 2011, she became a unit manager at the Federal Medical Center Fort Worth, Texas. In 2013, she was promoted to a correctional program specialist, at the South Central Regional Office. In 2020, she accepted a position as the central inmate monitoring system classification specialist, in the Central Office in Grand Prairie, Texas, Designation Sentence Computation Center. Tonya retired on December 29, 2023, after 25 years of service with the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

She loved being a social butterfly and enjoyed, concerts, Broadway shows, reality TV shows, and according to her sisters, “boppin” around the town. However, she loved nothing more than being involved in her daughter’s high school and Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball journeys. She loved going to the tournaments and championship games, cheering on her daughters.

Tonya leaves to cherish her memory, her loving and devoted husband, Mark Wilson, two daughters, Kennedy Wilson and Kamryn Wilson all of Grand Prairie, Texas, parents, Gentry, Jr., and Rosie Powell of Amarillo, Texas, three sisters, Jennifer Powell-Wells (Giovanni) of Mansfield, Texas, Chrystal Powell of Desoto, Texas, and Courtney Powell-Mattheis (Chris) of Palmdale, California, four nephews, Michael Gentry Custis Wells of Mansfield, Texas, Donivhan Mekhi Patterson (Desmond) of Desoto, Texas, Cole Mattheis and Chase Mattheis of Palmdale, California, one niece, Courtlyn Mattheis of Palmdale, California, one God Brother, Marlin Allen (Kamace) of Forney, Texas, two God Daughters, Trinity Leonard and Tierney Leonard of Woodland Hills, California, a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, classmates, coaches, basketball moms, other relatives, and friends.

Arrangements are entrusted to Heavenly Gate Funeral Services, 702 Gatewood Road, Garland, Texas 75043.

Please share your memories and condolences with the Tonya Michelle Powell Wilson Family on our Online Guest Book at www.warfordmortuary.com and www.heavenlygatefuneralservices.com.