Carolyn Harrell Taylor, a woman of extraordinary compassion and love, died suddenly on Monday, March 8, 2010 at UNC Hospitals.
Born in Colerain, NC to Clyde and Ruth Evans Harrell, Carolyn grew up in Gates County as the eldest of the three Harrell daughters.
On December 19, 1964 Carolyn married Carl Taylor. They lived in Chapel Hill where Carl attended the UNC School of Pharmacy and where their son Chip was born in 1967. In 1968 they moved to Ahoskie where daughter Cathryn was born in 1971.
Carl founded Carl Taylor Pharmacies in 1979 and Carolyn helped support patients seeking services. In 1981 she helped found Roanoke Chowan Hospice, the first rural hospice in the country. She worked tirelessly as a hospice volunteer and remained a member of that board of directors until 1995. It was in this work that she found her true professional calling – serving others.
She also served on the Board of Directors of the Hertford County Department of Social Services and on the Board of Trustees of Roanoke Chowan Community College. Her commitment to the community was formally recognized when she was named Hertford County Outstanding Volunteer in 1988.
At a stage in life where many women might consider slowing down, Carolyn decided to return to school. After making the Deans’ and Chancellor’s Lists, she graduated with honors from East Carolina in 2003. The degree only formalized her life as a social worker. She was known as someone you could go to for help who would dedicate herself to getting you what you needed. She went on to found Geriatric Life Management where she continued to assist elders and their families with all aspects of needed care and well-being until her death.
As impressive a volunteer and professional as she was, her happiest and proudest moments were found as a wife, mother, grandmother and friend. In whatever role she played, she provided the kind of love and support that convinced each of us who knew her that we were her favorite. Famous for her singular pimento cheese, her incredible hand rolled cheese biscuits and her satisfying vegetable beef soup, Carolyn was the consummate cook and hostess – right down to the crisply ironed linens. Her home was often open to friends and soon-to-be friends, and it reflected her sense of style and joy in sharing it with others, including the animals she cherished, especially her recently departed English Springer Spaniel, Charles Kuralt Taylor.
In addition to her parents, Carolyn was predeceased by her sister, Rita H. Eure.
She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Carl; her children Carl, Jr. (Chip) and fiancé Naomi E. Brookner of Washington, DC; Cathryn Taylor Perry and husband Chris of Virginia Beach, VA and Shelbi Sessoms of the home; as well as her sister Nan H. Hudgins. The light of her life, granddaughter Anna Cathryn Redding Perry also survives her along with nieces, nephews, godchildren and countless friends, all of whom will miss her dearly.
Carolyn leaves a legacy of belief in the worth of every human being, regardless of color or social status, and those she leaves behind will honor her most by living in the same manner in which she did.
Services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Chapel of the Cross at 304 East Franklin St. in Chapel Hill. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Tidewater Chapter (5712 Cleveland St., Suite 100, Virginia Beach, VA 23462), UNC Hospice (P.O. Box 1077, Pittsboro, NC 27312) or University Health Systems Hospice (P.O. Box 272, Ahoskie, NC 27910).
In addition, Carolyn would be especially pleased to know you were cheering on the Tar Heels and voting for the Democrats of your choice in future elections.