Carolyn Phillips Martin, 80, went peacefully to be with her Lord and Savior on Monday, May 5, 2025. Carolyn was born on April 16, 1945, in Rockingham County, to the late Charlie P. Phillips and Ruby G. Phillips. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Leonard. She leaves behind her loving and devoted partner, Charles, her children, John (Maria), Laurie, Pam (Robert), and James, grandchildren, Charlie, Ashley, and Aryan, great-grandchildren, Ezekiel, Naomi, Areli, and Anna, and a loving, faithful pup, Shadow, as well as her loving church family and many dear friends.
Carolyn was a loving and faithful daughter, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, partner, and friend. An amazing woman who loved her Lord and walked in His light proudly. She grew up tending gardens, raising animals, working in the tobacco fields and mill, as well as learning parts and cars from her daddy. She started out in grade school cleaning parts in her daddy’s garage after school. He wanted her to know how to do things including taking care of her first car, a pink and white’55 Chevy Belair, twin pipes with glass packs. Still brought a smile to her face thinking back to the good old days ripping the roads in her ride. She was an avid shooter, joining the local hunting club, she loved to hunt and fish, and even went bear and elk hunting. She was an independent, self-driven woman and loved sewing, cooking, canning, crafting, gardening, and building things. She had an amazing green thumb and loved tending her flowers and watching the butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife that visited her yard, including deer, turkey, foxes, groundhogs, and an occasional bear. There wasn’t much that she couldn’t do or didn’t know how to do, and if she didn’t know it, she’d learn it.
Carolyn left the mills and went to cosmetology school earning her license and traveled far to train under the famous hairstylist Jose Eber in New York, Washington D.C., Florida, and Charlotte, NC. She stepped back from traveling and cosmetology after her second child and started learning property management from her father-in-law as she would soon become property manager of Circle M Mobile Home Park and Circle M Motel in Summerfield, NC. She was grateful for his knowledge, helping hands, and steadfast faith in her and her capabilities. After many devoted years to the park and motel, she would leave there and work her way up to supervisor/manager at JC Penney in Greensboro, NC.
An adventurous woman, her and Charles spent over thirty-five years growing in Christ and building a relationship with each other. Together, they enjoyed many a good meal, many church services, functions and outings, developed many lasting friendships, and traveled to various places, such as New Orleans, Niagara Falls, Canada, Branson, MS, Memphis and Nashville, TN, and Florida to SeaWorld, the Epcot Center, and Disney World. Most of all they loved going to the beach, fishing off the coast, relaxing and enjoying each other’s company.
She was a God-fearing woman of many talents and very proud of her kids. Her strength and faithfulness were unwavering. She dedicated her life to loving, raising, and trying to teach them everything she could about loving the Lord, living life to the fullest, and being independent. She loved her grandchildren and great-grandchildren and attempted to pass on as much of the same dedication in teaching life values to them. Many warm, heartfelt conversations, loving smiles, laughter and tears were shared with her, the twinkle in her eyes said it all. She was strong, compassionate, kind, faithful, genuine, helpful, understanding, generous with her knowledge, and fervent in her prayers. Her love, warmth, radiance, and conversation are irreplaceable. Being a guiding light and driving force, she had a positive impact on many. She leaves behind a legacy of love that will be sorely missed and treasured through the end of time. A truly amazing lady who lived an amazing life.
Colonial Funeral Home in Madison is serving the family.
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