Carolyn Williams

Carolyn Pate Williams FRANKLIN - Carolyn Pate Williams, 70, widow of James Charles Williams III went to be with her Lord and Savior Dec. 10, 2010 after a courageous 7-year battle with breast cancer. Carolyn was born in New Bern, N.C., the only child of the late Enos Obed and Dorothy Powell Pate. Besides her husband and parents, she was predeceased by an infant son, Davis Pate Williams. Carolyn had a great love for family first, friends, music, art, books, teaching, cooking, reading and writing in her journal. She started playing the piano at the age of 10 and began teaching piano in the tenth grade. She began accompanying singers in the sixth grade, which continued until she was no longer able. She even played piano for a ballet class in high school. Music played such an important place in her life. She played the organ for High Street United Methodist Church and Sedley Baptist Church. She also taught piano lessons in her home for many years. Her relationship with her Lord played an important role in her life. Her family played an important role in her life. Her love for knowledge, wisdom and truth gave her a saturating thirst to read and research everything. Carolyn had retired from the Southampton County Public School system and was a former teacher in Suffolk and Holland, Va. She was a 1958 graduate of New Bern High School, a graduate of East Carolina University and received a master's in education at Old Dominion University. Carolyn was a member of Sedley Baptist Church and Franklin Music Club. Left to cherish her sweet, loving memory are her children, Lisa W. Hagerty and her husband John of Powhatan, Va., Susan W. Osborne and her husband Scott of Midlothian, Va., and James (Jay) Charles Williams IV of New Bern; her three beloved grandchildren, Whitney Davis Kee of Northern Virginia, Tyler Wade Kee of Powhatan, Va., and Ryan Scott Osborne of Midlothian; a brother-in-law, Edgar Davis Williams and his wife Amy of Waleska, Ga.; Carolyn's special caregiver, Loretta Surace of Courtland, Va.; and a family pet, Kitty Kitty; and a niece, nephew, several cousins and many faithful friends. A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 12, at Wright Funeral Home with the Rev. Jim Foreman and the Rev. David Dillon officiating. The interment will follow at Poplar Spring Cemetery. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service (2 to 3 p.m.) at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to the Sedley Baptist Church Building Fund, c/o Mrs. Jennifer Capps, 22451 Jennifer's Place, Franklin, VA 23851 or your local American Cancer Society. Condolences may be offered at www.wrightfuneralhome.org.