Carolyn Neel Tutwiler

1927 - 2018

Carolyn Neel Tutwiler passed away at Piedmont Medical Center on Friday, March 2, 2018 after several months of declining health.

She was born in Fayetteville, WV in 1927 to the Reverend Wilton Cook Neel of Steele Creek, NC and Floride Faires Neel of Rock Hill, SC. When she was 13, her family moved to Gastonia, NC, where she graduated from Gastonia High School. She attended Peace College and Queens College and received her BS in Chemistry degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she met her future husband, Frank Bryan Tutwiler. Carolyn and Frank were married in 1948 and then moved to Bristol, TN and later Williamstown, MA, where Frank taught at King College and Williams College, respectively. In 1955, the family moved to Rock Hill, when Frank took a teaching position at Winthrop University. Carolyn and Frank were active community members and developed many friends through community organizations, social groups, the Winthrop faculty, and, especially, membership in the Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church. After teaching part-time at the old Winthrop Training School, Carolyn earned her MAT degree from Winthrop University and joined the faculty of the School of Education where she influenced many young people in her position as an academic advisor.

Carolyn and Frank and their four children enjoyed travelling across the United States, camping, and hiking. Carolyn and Frank were avid environmentalists, and they spent many hours giving talks to local groups on wildflowers, astronomy, and the natural wonders of our national parks and helped found the Henry's Knob Group of the Sierra Club. After Frank passed away in 1979, Carolyn continued to raise their younger son, stay involved with community activities, and travel with friends and family, expanding her horizons to include Europe and the Middle East. As a member of the congregation for over 60 years, Carolyn was very involved in the life of Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church, serving on the Session, helping to establish a Stephen Ministry program, participating in the Early Worship Program, Presbyterian Women, and, latterly, the Syrian Ministry. She was also a dedicated supporter of Bethelwoods Camp and Conference Center outside Rock Hill, SC where in her earlier years Carolyn served as a volunteer camp counselor.

Carolyn is survived by her children, Richard (Patricia Murray) of Cairo, Egypt, Lydia (Fredric Landau) of Oakton, VA, Julia (Bruce Henning) of Vienna, VA, and John of Charlotte, NC. Carolyn was blessed with and is survived by eight grandsons: Bryan Henning (Lara Howerton), Keith Henning, Alex Landau, Iain Tutwiler (Whitney Corthell), Scott Henning, Daniel Tutwiler, Ryan Tutwiler, and Nick Tutwiler, as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. Carolyn was predeceased by her husband, Frank and her brother, John M. Neel.

The family will receive friends at Greene Funeral Home Northwest Chapel, 2133 Ebenezer Rd, Rock Hill, SC on Friday, March 23, 2018 from 7-8:30PM. Graveside service will be at 12:30PM on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Bethesda Presbyterian Church near McConnells, SC. A service to celebrate Carolyn's life will be at 2PM on Saturday, March 24, 2018 at Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church in Rock Hill.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in Carolyn's name to the Frank Bryan Tutwiler Scholarship Program at Winthrop University (Winthrop University Foundation, 302 Tillman Hall, Rock Hill, SC 29733) or to Oakland Avenue Presbyterian Church (421 Oakland Avenue, Rock Hill, SC 29730) and designate "Syria Ministry" in the memo line.

Condolences may be made at www.greenefuneralhome.net.