Melanie Wilkinson used to tell friends that she fell in love with music when she was 4 years old and heard the sound of children singing in a school choir.
She spent the next three decades singing in high school and college, training as an opera singer and earning a master's degree in music from Texas State University. Along the way, she performed for Ann Richards, Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Jordan, who frequently requested Wilkinson at special events.
On Monday, Wilkinson, 37, was killed in a collision in the 2200 block of East 51st Street, just east of Waterbrook Drive, in Austin, Texas, several days before she was scheduled to travel to Washington to sing with a choral group at the National Cathedral. She was leaving her job as an overnight 911 call-taker at Austin's Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center when the wreck happened. Wilkinson had worked there since 2005. Police say her Toyota Corolla was hit when another driver crossed the center line.
By Monday night, Austin Police Department co-workers, family members and friends were dealing with the news of her death.
"She had the gift," said Marlon McGhee, choral director of East Side Church of Christ. "When she sang, she just held your attention. I would just have to stop and listen sometimes and say, 'Wow, I'm supposed to be directing the group.' "
Wilkinson's supervisor at the call center, Michelle Frazier, said Wilkinson handled all her emergency calls calmly and with an even temper.
"Melanie never said a bad thing about anyone," Frazier said. "She saw the good in everyone."
She said Wilkinson was well-liked by her co-workers.
"It's like a bright light has gone off here," Frazier said.
Wilkinson's shift had ended at 6 a.m., but she had stayed late for a Black History Month brunch.
Wilkinson's sister, Cheryl Woods, who is a Police Department financial manager, said she was told of the wreck by Acevedo and City Manager Marc Ott. Woods said she spent the rest of the day with friends and family members, including McGhee and Ed Davis, the church's youth director. Davis works with the youth choral group, which Wilkinson frequently helped with.
Davis said Monday night that he was saddened by the sudden loss but had found some comfort.
"Faithful Christians, when they leave this world, they go to a better place," Davis said. "We just weren't ready to see her leave yet."
She spent the next three decades singing in high school and college, training as an opera singer and earning a master's degree in music from Texas State University. Along the way, she performed for Ann Richards, Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Jordan, who frequently requested Wilkinson at special events.
On Monday, Wilkinson, 37, was killed in a collision in the 2200 block of East 51st Street, just east of Waterbrook Drive, in Austin, Texas, several days before she was scheduled to travel to Washington to sing with a choral group at the National Cathedral. She was leaving her job as an overnight 911 call-taker at Austin's Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center when the wreck happened. Wilkinson had worked there since 2005. Police say her Toyota Corolla was hit when another driver crossed the center line.
By Monday night, Austin Police Department co-workers, family members and friends were dealing with the news of her death.
"She had the gift," said Marlon McGhee, choral director of East Side Church of Christ. "When she sang, she just held your attention. I would just have to stop and listen sometimes and say, 'Wow, I'm supposed to be directing the group.' "
Wilkinson's supervisor at the call center, Michelle Frazier, said Wilkinson handled all her emergency calls calmly and with an even temper.
"Melanie never said a bad thing about anyone," Frazier said. "She saw the good in everyone."
She said Wilkinson was well-liked by her co-workers.
"It's like a bright light has gone off here," Frazier said.
Wilkinson's shift had ended at 6 a.m., but she had stayed late for a Black History Month brunch.
Wilkinson's sister, Cheryl Woods, who is a Police Department financial manager, said she was told of the wreck by Acevedo and City Manager Marc Ott. Woods said she spent the rest of the day with friends and family members, including McGhee and Ed Davis, the church's youth director. Davis works with the youth choral group, which Wilkinson frequently helped with.
Davis said Monday night that he was saddened by the sudden loss but had found some comfort.
"Faithful Christians, when they leave this world, they go to a better place," Davis said. "We just weren't ready to see her leave yet."
Melanie Wilkinson used to tell friends that she fell in love with music when she was 4 years old and heard the sound of children singing in a school choir.
She spent the next three decades singing in high school and college, training as an opera singer and earning a master's degree in music from Texas State University. Along the way, she performed for Ann Richards, Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Jordan, who frequently requested Wilkinson at special events.
On Monday, Wilkinson, 37, was killed in a collision in the 2200 block of East 51st Street, just east of Waterbrook Drive, in Austin, Texas, several days before she was scheduled to travel to Washington to sing with a choral group at the National Cathedral. She was leaving her job as an overnight 911 call-taker at Austin's Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center when the wreck happened. Wilkinson had worked there since 2005. Police say her Toyota Corolla was hit when another driver crossed the center line.
By Monday night, Austin Police Department co-workers, family members and friends were dealing with the news of her death.
"She had the gift," said Marlon McGhee, choral director of East Side Church of Christ. "When she sang, she just held your attention. I would just have to stop and listen sometimes and say, 'Wow, I'm supposed to be directing the group.' "
Wilkinson's supervisor at the call center, Michelle Frazier, said Wilkinson handled all her emergency calls calmly and with an even temper.
"Melanie never said a bad thing about anyone," Frazier said. "She saw the good in everyone."
She said Wilkinson was well-liked by her co-workers.
"It's like a bright light has gone off here," Frazier said.
Wilkinson's shift had ended at 6 a.m., but she had stayed late for a Black History Month brunch.
Wilkinson's sister, Cheryl Woods, who is a Police Department financial manager, said she was told of the wreck by Acevedo and City Manager Marc Ott. Woods said she spent the rest of the day with friends and family members, including McGhee and Ed Davis, the church's youth director. Davis works with the youth choral group, which Wilkinson frequently helped with.
Davis said Monday night that he was saddened by the sudden loss but had found some comfort.
"Faithful Christians, when they leave this world, they go to a better place," Davis said. "We just weren't ready to see her leave yet."
She spent the next three decades singing in high school and college, training as an opera singer and earning a master's degree in music from Texas State University. Along the way, she performed for Ann Richards, Lady Bird Johnson and Barbara Jordan, who frequently requested Wilkinson at special events.
On Monday, Wilkinson, 37, was killed in a collision in the 2200 block of East 51st Street, just east of Waterbrook Drive, in Austin, Texas, several days before she was scheduled to travel to Washington to sing with a choral group at the National Cathedral. She was leaving her job as an overnight 911 call-taker at Austin's Combined Transportation, Emergency and Communications Center when the wreck happened. Wilkinson had worked there since 2005. Police say her Toyota Corolla was hit when another driver crossed the center line.
By Monday night, Austin Police Department co-workers, family members and friends were dealing with the news of her death.
"She had the gift," said Marlon McGhee, choral director of East Side Church of Christ. "When she sang, she just held your attention. I would just have to stop and listen sometimes and say, 'Wow, I'm supposed to be directing the group.' "
Wilkinson's supervisor at the call center, Michelle Frazier, said Wilkinson handled all her emergency calls calmly and with an even temper.
"Melanie never said a bad thing about anyone," Frazier said. "She saw the good in everyone."
She said Wilkinson was well-liked by her co-workers.
"It's like a bright light has gone off here," Frazier said.
Wilkinson's shift had ended at 6 a.m., but she had stayed late for a Black History Month brunch.
Wilkinson's sister, Cheryl Woods, who is a Police Department financial manager, said she was told of the wreck by Acevedo and City Manager Marc Ott. Woods said she spent the rest of the day with friends and family members, including McGhee and Ed Davis, the church's youth director. Davis works with the youth choral group, which Wilkinson frequently helped with.
Davis said Monday night that he was saddened by the sudden loss but had found some comfort.
"Faithful Christians, when they leave this world, they go to a better place," Davis said. "We just weren't ready to see her leave yet."
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