Obituary for Carolyn P. Flournoy
Beautiful. Faithful. Strong. Determined. Loving.
Carolyn (Delores) Pettigrew Flournoy, 74, entered into eternal rest on May 11, 2020 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. She was born on August 1, 1945 in Holly Hill, South Carolina to Webber Pettigrew (deceased) and Pearline (Bryant) Pettigrew (deceased). She was married to Freddie James Flournoy (deceased) at her Aunt Madeline (Bryant) Pledger’s (deceased) home in Queens, New York.
Carolyn was educated in the Public Schools of Holly Hill, where she first established her intellectual excellence. Always a very bright student, she graduated from Roberts High School in 1962, at the young age of 16. While at Roberts, she engaged in the extracurricular activity of playing the tenor saxophone, an instrument passed down from her older brother Webber, on the High School Marching Band. Following graduation, Carolyn began her post-secondary education at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina where she achieved the honor of Debutante. As life would have it, she departed Allen University before graduating to pursue motherhood and administrative work. Later in life, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from The College of Staten Island in 1981 (Staten Island, New York). In 1984, Carolyn graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in both Business Administration and Psychology from Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York (CUNY; Brooklyn, New York).
Carolyn P. Flournoy, as she liked to be referenced, was vetted and evolved as a consummate professional in her fields of study, Business Administration and Psychology. Over her lifetime, she has held several positions that collectively define her robust portfolio of work experiences. Starting as a primary school teacher in Holly Hill, South Carolina, she migrated to New York to work in the Banking industry, The Head Start Early Childhood Education Program, and Early Poverty Program; with notable leadership roles as the Administrative Director for The Daughters of African Descent Day Care Center in Brooklyn, New York, and the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the Brownsville Community Corporation. Other noteworthy titles that she has held over the years include: Bookkeeper, Data Entry “CRT” Operator, Dorm Mother, Office Assistant, and Substitute Teacher for various institutions including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Cumberland County Schools, and Fayetteville State University, just to name a few.
Carolyn’s faith and steadfast belief in God and His Word lead her to fellowship, join, and volunteer in several church homes depending upon her residence: Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Holly Hill, South Carolina; Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral, Jamaica, New York; Arran Lake Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC; St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Fayetteville, NC; and St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Smithfield, NC.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her late husband, Mr. Freddy J. Flournoy, and most recently their child, Pamela Monique Flournoy. She is survived by her oldest daughter, Phyllis Carol Flournoy; her son, Eugene Arthur Gibbs II (Gene), and his wife Katoria Gibbs; her granddaughter, Mikaela Damaris Flournoy (Mickey); her grandson, Eugene Arthur Gibbs III (Sugar Boy); her brother, Webber Pettigrew; her sister, Betty Jean Anderson; her sister, Elizabeth Ann Watson; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Carolyn (Delores) Pettigrew Flournoy, 74, entered into eternal rest on May 11, 2020 at Duke University Hospital in Durham, North Carolina. She was born on August 1, 1945 in Holly Hill, South Carolina to Webber Pettigrew (deceased) and Pearline (Bryant) Pettigrew (deceased). She was married to Freddie James Flournoy (deceased) at her Aunt Madeline (Bryant) Pledger’s (deceased) home in Queens, New York.
Carolyn was educated in the Public Schools of Holly Hill, where she first established her intellectual excellence. Always a very bright student, she graduated from Roberts High School in 1962, at the young age of 16. While at Roberts, she engaged in the extracurricular activity of playing the tenor saxophone, an instrument passed down from her older brother Webber, on the High School Marching Band. Following graduation, Carolyn began her post-secondary education at Allen University in Columbia, South Carolina where she achieved the honor of Debutante. As life would have it, she departed Allen University before graduating to pursue motherhood and administrative work. Later in life, she earned an Associate’s Degree in Business Administration from The College of Staten Island in 1981 (Staten Island, New York). In 1984, Carolyn graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in both Business Administration and Psychology from Medgar Evers College of The City University of New York (CUNY; Brooklyn, New York).
Carolyn P. Flournoy, as she liked to be referenced, was vetted and evolved as a consummate professional in her fields of study, Business Administration and Psychology. Over her lifetime, she has held several positions that collectively define her robust portfolio of work experiences. Starting as a primary school teacher in Holly Hill, South Carolina, she migrated to New York to work in the Banking industry, The Head Start Early Childhood Education Program, and Early Poverty Program; with notable leadership roles as the Administrative Director for The Daughters of African Descent Day Care Center in Brooklyn, New York, and the Assistant Director of Public Relations for the Brownsville Community Corporation. Other noteworthy titles that she has held over the years include: Bookkeeper, Data Entry “CRT” Operator, Dorm Mother, Office Assistant, and Substitute Teacher for various institutions including the U.S. Department of Commerce, Cumberland County Schools, and Fayetteville State University, just to name a few.
Carolyn’s faith and steadfast belief in God and His Word lead her to fellowship, join, and volunteer in several church homes depending upon her residence: Bethel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Holly Hill, South Carolina; Allen African Methodist Episcopal Cathedral, Jamaica, New York; Arran Lake Baptist Church, Fayetteville, NC; St. Luke African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Fayetteville, NC; and St. Mark African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, Smithfield, NC.
Carolyn was preceded in death by her late husband, Mr. Freddy J. Flournoy, and most recently their child, Pamela Monique Flournoy. She is survived by her oldest daughter, Phyllis Carol Flournoy; her son, Eugene Arthur Gibbs II (Gene), and his wife Katoria Gibbs; her granddaughter, Mikaela Damaris Flournoy (Mickey); her grandson, Eugene Arthur Gibbs III (Sugar Boy); her brother, Webber Pettigrew; her sister, Betty Jean Anderson; her sister, Elizabeth Ann Watson; and a host of other relatives and friends.