Brooklen Mae Wallace, 18, of Wilmington, North Carolina and formerly Mansfield, Ohio, passed away as a passenger in a tragic car accident early Sunday morning August 3, 2025. Born August 29th, 2006, at MedCentral Mansfield, the waiting room was full of family excited about her arrival. From the moment she was born, she was full of love for her family and friends.
She attended Madison Schools most of her life, before moving to Wilmington, NC during her tenth-grade year. She was a recent 2025 graduate of Emsley A. Laney High School, graduating early and with honors. She was proud to be a Laney Buc, who she swam for until her Senior year. During her Junior and Senior years, she attended Cape Fear Community College and obtained not only her CNA but also her Medical Assisting certificate, making her parents incredibly proud. Her parents would like to thank Ms. Cary and Ms. Harvey for loving our girl so much and being the incredible teachers they were to leave a lasting impact in her life.
After obtaining her CNA, Brooklen worked for a few different nursing homes including Azalea, Davis, and Liberty before finding her perfect match with Elder Care Home Services, where she enjoyed having one on one time with her residents. She was an incredible CNA, who often formed strong bonds with her residents and their families. If they were in the hospital she would spend her day off visiting them, often doing their nails, fixing up their hair or just simply being present with them for the whole day. And always making sure her residents looked good. You knew what unit she was on because she always dressed them in her favorite color, pink, and even bought presents for all her residents at Davis on Valentines Day, going from building to building distributing them and making sure everyone felt extra loved that day. Some of her favorites were Ms. Mary Lewis, who had passed recently, and Brooke took the news incredibly hard, as she would visit her often and bring her favorite foods even though she no longer worked at the same facility. Also, Mrs. Harper and her daughter Ally, who she met while Mrs. Harper was in rehab at a facility, were a second family to her, and she spent as much time with them as possible. Mrs. Harper often asked “when is my girl coming back”. Brooke left an incredible impact on both of them and their families.
She also loved her second job at Dairy Queen, where she was treated as family, and we would like to thank the team and her bosses for loving her as their own.
Brooklen was set to leave for the Marine Corps in September and was so excited to start her career in the military, she wanted to be a “lifer” she would say. She would walk through the house yelling OOORRRAAHHH all day. She thoroughly enjoyed PT with her fellow recruits and would say “Mom I can’t wait I want more” after her pollee events. She would have been one of the best Marines and was looking forward to meeting new friends and traveling while proudly serving her country. We would like to thank her Recruiter Welsh, for believing in her and knowing her potential to be the best Marine she could be. And boy was she going to be amazing at it.
When she was 9 years old and during her first year of FFA, she raised Peking Ducks and ended up winning Grand Champion at the fair. We were hoping for a good first year experience, but our girl took top prize, shocking everyone, and then more than doubled the record for sale at auction.
After moving to Wilmington, she truly flourished as an individual instantly and became the best version of herself. She embraced the beach life thoroughly, being the epitome of a beach babe, and spent most of her days off lounging on Wrightsville Beach or boating. She loved running the Wrightsville Loop, which she preferred to do near sunset to see the beautiful views from the soundside. She loved a new adventure, and truly loved life and lived life to the fullest every single day. Anyone who met her was instantly her friend and adored her. She touched so many lives in so many ways with her beautiful infectious smile, positive attitude, and goofy personality.
She is survived by her mother and bonus father, Stephanie and Raymond Mullins of Wilmington, NC. Her father, Joshua Wallace of Shelby Ohio. Siblings, Raylen Wallace, Natalie Mullins, Raymond Mullins, Kendyll Mullins, Jerrett (Sadie) Mullins and their children, Rayne Mullins, Jolene Mullins, Holden Mullins, Mack Mullins, and Milo Mullins, Kayla (Torsten) Sjostedt and their children, Bella Sjostedt, Amiyah Sjostedt, Legend Sjostedt, Tj Sjostedt, and Ocean Sjostedt. Maternal Grandmother, Dorothy (Mawmaw) Partin of Mansfield, Ohio. Paternal Grandparents, Papa Todd and Nana Joann Wallace, Grammie Tracey Lonteen all from Shelby, Ohio. Step Grandmother, Joan Mullins of Mansfield, Ohio. Uncle Beau and Aunt Rene Ricer of Mansfield, Ohio and their children, Beau Beau Ricer and Kylee Werner. Aunt Kersandra (Amity) Montoya of California, Maryland and their children, Shayla Slater, Jordon Slater, Oswin Montoya and Christa Montoya. Aunt Lexie Wallace of Lexington, Kentucky. Aunt Julia (Dalton) Mitchell of Shiloh, Ohio. Uncle Joseph Heifner and significant other, Sydney Gilland of Ashland, Ohio. Great Grandmother, Bettie Thomas of Crestline, Ohio. Step Great Grandmother, Mary Rand of Greenwhich, Ohio. Her beloved companions who she cherished deeply were her cats Eddie and Fluffy. Along with numerous other family including great aunts, uncles, cousins, and many many dear friends.
We would like to acknowledge a few of her dearest friends, lifelong friend Lilly Truax who she referred to as “best”, Bella Montgomery who she loved dearly and always will, Griff Burk her “homeboy” as she called him and the Clyde to her Bonnie, Kylie Cochrane who she loved like a sister, and Marlie Lankford who she spent many adventures with, and brought her out of her shell after moving to Wilmington.
She was preceded in death by her best friend and “Papa” Kenny Partin who we are sure is in heaven running amuck together now, Grandfather Brian Ricer, Uncle BJ Ricer, Uncle Jacob Wallace, Step Grandfather Jackie Mullins, Great Great Grandmother Pauline Schiffer and Step Great Grandfather John Rand.
Although she is no longer with us, her memory will always live on, and she will never be forgotten by anyone who knew her. We love you baby girl, and we will always be so proud of you and miss you more than you will ever know.
Forever 18, and always in our hearts.
A memorial service will be held Tuesday, August 12, 2025, at Wappner Funeral Directors, 98 S. Diamond Street Mansfield, Ohio. Calling hours are from 11:00 am until 1:00 pm with a service to immediately follow at 1:00 pm. The family will be receiving family and friends following the services at Kindred Kove located at 1710 Lorkay Drive, Mansfield, Ohio. The family requests no alcohol be brought or served. A beach memorial to celebrate her life in Wilmington will be scheduled at a later date. Wappner Funeral Directors-Mansfield is honored to serve the family.
