I Am Wilshire – Kelly Akins.
Name: Kelly Akins
Hometown: Fort Worth
Education: BA, elementary education, Oklahoma Baptist University; MEd, gifted education, University of North Texas
Profession: Education
Present city: Dallas
Tell us about your family.
I’ve been married to Allan for 25 years. Our son, Brian, graduated from Belmont University in November 2020 and works at Movement, a rock-climbing gym in Dallas. Emily, our daughter, graduated from Loyola University Chicago in May with an elementary education degree and is now teaching second grade on Chicago’s south side.
How about your work or volunteer life?
I retired from the public schools in 2016 after teaching kindergarten for 32 years. I am now assistant director for Wilshire’s Early Childhood Learning Center, and on Fridays and Saturdays I work at the Rocking Bobbin Quilt Shop in Garland.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I love to sew, quilt, smock and read.
What is your favorite place to travel?
I’ve been many places with choirs throughout my life, and one of my favorite places to visit is London.
What brought you to Wilshire and when?
I joined Wilshire in January 1990 as a single adult. When Allan and I married in 1997, he joined me here, coming from Broadway Baptist in Fort Worth.
Where are you engaged at Wilshire?
We are members of Epiphany Class and I play in Carillon Ringers and direct Beginning Handbells. I’m also a deacon.
What do you think God is up to in your life right now?
I am learning more about trust and prayer right now because I can’t change or fix situations that are happening. However, I can pray about them and trust that the outcome will be what God wants and not what I want.
Tell us about your faith journey.
I grew up at University Baptist in Fort Worth, where my Daddy was minister of music for 16 years. At OBU I was active in church and music. When I started teaching, I was a member of Park Cities Baptist for six years and then joined Wilshire. Hymns have played a large role in my spiritual life. I know scripture because of hymns and songs I have sung in choirs.
What’s something interesting most people wouldn’t know about you?
My Daddy (Joe King) has been Wilshire’s interim minister of music on two occasions since I became a member here. Fun fact: I was the 1,000,000th customer on Midway Airlines in 1983 and got to fly free for a year.
What adjectives describe you?
Creative, organized, multitasker, list maker
If you are interested in being featured in an upcoming I Am Wilshire article, contact Carolyn Murray