CAROLYN ALLEN MCCHESNEY
1917-2010
Carolyn Allen McChesney was born in Charlotte, the daughter of Harriet Hanna and Otto Garvey Allen.
A service of worship, celebrating Carolyn's life will be held at First Presbyterian Church, 1101 E. Ash St., on Tuesday at 2 p.m. The family will receive friends immediately following the service at the church.
Carolyn grew up in Charlotte and later went off to high school and college in Montreat. While working in Montreat, the summer of 1937, she was offered a job as church secretary in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where she met James M. McChesney Jr., a young campus minister. They were married on July 31, 1940, and celebrated their 69th wedding anniversary last summer.
Carolyn and Jim became integral parts of their church families in Oxford, Goldsboro, Rocky Mount and Raleigh, as well as Pensacola, Fla., Jim as pastor and Carolyn as his support system and shining star. She taught Sunday school, sang in the choir, helped Jim with many church and civic related activities, and was a devoted wife and loving mother.
Carolyn proudly displayed pictures of her children and grandchildren wherever she could and enjoyed telling stories about them all. Her love of painting inspired her to commission many family portraits which she dearly loved. Carolyn had a passion for reading and often collected quotations which had special meaning to her. She was a lovely, winsome, friendly and outgoing person with a contagious laugh. She radiated happiness. She liked nothing better than to visit with friends and listen to Jim's endless repertoire of jokes, some of which she may have heard a few times before. In addition to her brother O.G., Carolyn was extremely close to Jim's sister, Kitty, his three brothers, Don, Graham and Charlie, and their families.
Carolyn was predeceased by her brother Otto Garvey Allen Jr. and his wife, Betty. She is survived by her husband of 69 years, James M. McChesney Jr.; her daughter Carol M. Wainwright and husband, George L. Wainwright, of Morehead City, and their children, Kennon A. Wainwright of Charlotte and Ashton M. Wainwright of Chapel Hill; and her son, James M. McChesney III and his wife, Nancy M. McChesney, and their children, J. Matthew McChesney and his wife, Brooke E. McChesney, of Washington, D.C., and W. Trent McChesney of Charleston, S.C.
The family wishes to thank the staff at The Albemarle and Community Hospice for their medical care, sensitivity and kindness to Carolyn and her family. Special thanks also to Gina Rogers for her loving care.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Union Presbyterian Seminary, 3401 Brook Road, Richmond, Va. 23227, or a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.
(Pd)
Published in Obituaries on March 21, 2010 11:30 AM