Kym Wilson, a native of Knoxville, TN., came to NOBTS after getting two degrees from The University of Tennessee. She came to NOBTS in the Fall of 1997 to work on her MDiv in Missions.

While attending the seminary, Kym worked part-time as a switchboard operator and secretary for several professors on campus. She graduated in May of 2000. In November of 2000, she became full-time Director of Housing here at NOBTS. She was director until Dec. 2001. After leaving NOBTS, Kym became a missionary with the IMB.

Kym was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 35 while serving the IMB in Southeast Asia. She returned to the States for treatment. She spent 2-1/2 years going through treatment and recovery. She had a double mastectomy, 6 rounds of chemo, 43 rounds of radiation, and a double back flap breast reconstruction. Kym returned to Southeast Asia in the Spring of 2005 and was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August of 2005. She returned again to the States for treatment. She had brain surgery and a Cyber knife procedure to remove the tumor. She had 2 more tumors and more Cyber knife procedures and chemotherapy.

One of the last things that Kym wanted to do was to come back to NOBTS to see her friends and to tell the students her story. After two attempts, a car wreck before, and a car wreck trying to get to the Amtrak, she made it here with her very special friend Elizabeth Johnson and her family in March of 2008. She spoke in classes, in the girls dorm and to all who would hear her. It was great heaving Kym here with us one last time.

Kym said, "My Lord is the greatest. He has remained my rock through all of this and will continue to strengthen and guide me through all of this. We all are praying for complete healing."

Kym got her complete healing as she went home to be with the Lord on May 20, 2008. 

Kym was single, never married. She was survived by her mom, dad, stepfather, stepmother, sister, brother, nieces, and nephews. Kym loved her family and loved her Lord.

Kym was a special friend, and I miss her a lot. I will always have her in my heart. I think Dr. Chuck Kelley, President Emeritus of NOBTS, put it best in a letter to her family: "Kym was not of our flesh and blood, but she was of our soul. All that we hope to teach, train, and pass on to our students was embodied in her wonderful life."