Carolyn A. Trotman

Carolyn's Life Reflections

On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, the Almighty God, in His infinite wisdom, dispatched His choice angels to escort our beloved Carolyn Alexane Smith Trotman, from this earthly existence to eternal life.

Carolyn was born in Norfolk, Virginia (in the family home) on November 29, 1948. She was the youngest daughter of the late Alexander Smith Jr and Lucinda Jones Smith. She was reared in Liberty Park and the 983 Widgeon Road sections of Norfolk. The family relocated to the Historic L&J Gardens community in 1962 (the second house built on Dulcie Avenue). Carolyn attended Liberty Park Elementary School and Jacox Middle School in Norfolk, VA and graduated from the Historic Union Kempsville High School (Virginia Beach) in 1967. You may find her picture in the Princess Anne County Training School/Union Kempsville High School (PACTS/UKHS) Museum located at the Renaissance Academy. She attended Shaw University (her father's alma mater) located in Raleigh, NC for one year.

Carolyn relocated to Edzell, Scotland (military deployment with her former husband in October 1968) where Kenny (1969) and Tracy (1970) were born. In June 1970, Carolyn and her "Scottish" children returned to Virginia Beach where family and neighbors flocked to meet the babies born in Scotland. Ten years later, Carolyn blessed the family with a beautiful baby girl, Bonyetta who is adored and always protected by her big brother and sister.

Carolyn accepted Christ at an early age and was a former member of the Historic Bank Street Memorial Baptist Church (Norfolk, VA) under the leadership of the Reverend John B. Henderson.

Carolyn was affectionately known as Ms. Trotman, "Ma Dukes", "Trot", and CAT (her initials). She was a teacher's assistant with the Virginia Beach Public School System where she taught at the Center for Effective Learning (CEL), Louise Luxford Elementary and Newtown Road Elementary. She retired from the Virginia Beach Public School System with 25 years of dedicated service in June 2008. She was also a bartender at Memories and Rafael's.

Carolyn loved everything about young people and wanted to know about everyone's children and how they were doing emotionally, socially, and academically. She loved playing Bingo with the residents at the Kempsville Rehabilitation Center and had a jar full of quarters to represent her winnings. She also loved her tablet where she played Spades, Solitaire, Bid Whist, Dominoes, & Bingo and watched her favorite movies Colombiana, Boyz N The Hood, and The Shawshank Redemption.

Carolyn leaves to cherish her loving memory: oldest child and only son, Kenneth Trotman Jr. (Shon) of Atlanta, GA, two daughters, Tracy Jamison of Virginia Beach, VA, and Bonyetta Trotman of Orlando, FL; five grandchildren, Khaulyl Trotman of Augusta, GA, Jokwan Trotman of Atlanta, GA, Miyasia Trotman of Atlanta, GA, Jevon Jamison of Virginia Beach, VA and Shakirah Riddick of Virginia Beach, VA; two great granddaughters, Lotus Indigo Trotman of Atlanta, GA and Shadai Riddick of Virginia Beach, VA; older sister, Barbara Smith-Ridley of Virginia Beach, VA; a very special nephew, Corey Ridley of Virginia Beach, VA; two aunts, Leatha Jones of Severn, MD and Ernestine Smith of Baltimore, MD; her best friend Roy Jordan of Virginia Beach, VA and dear friend Richard Lee of Chesapeake, VA. She is also survived by a host of relatives, friends, and four generations of Lake Edwards children.