CAROLYN BROWN FREDERICK

Carolyn Brown Frederick was born on Jan. 2, 1944, in Winnsboro, Louisiana, to Mary Bell Brown and John A. Sims. She entered into eternal rest on Tuesday, Jan. 23, 2024.

Reared in a loving home by her grandparents, John A. and Annie Brown, she was raised as the youngest of John A. and Annie's 13 children. Carolyn was the "baby" of the family. She attended the public schools of Winnsboro and excelled in academics, eventually graduating as the valedictorian of Franklin Parish High School.

Upon graduation, she matriculated at Southern University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, following in the footsteps of her older sister, Geraldine, along with her aunts, Daisy and Helen. Majoring in accounting, Carolyn was a wiz at math and science. While in college, she pledged the Beta Psi Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., following once again in the footsteps of her sister, Geraldine. In May of 1965, she graduated from Southern and, in August of that year, she entered the MBA program at Atlanta University (AU). While at AU, she met Leeroney Calvin "L.C." Frederick and, on Dec. 18, 1966, they married in her hometown of Winnsboro. Given that she completed her MBA in 1966 and he had another year to complete his degree, Carolyn returned to Baton Rouge and taught at her alma mater, Southern University, sending funds back to her husband to support the completion of his degree. When her husband was offered a job back in Sumter to serve as business manager at his alma mater, Morris College, she went to Sumter with him and began teaching in the public school system. Over the years, she taught math, accounting, bookkeeping and typing variously at Lincoln High School, Sumter High School and Hillcrest High School. In addition, she launched out on her entrepreneurial venture and opened a tax business from her home. As a supportive spouse with tremendous business skills, she served simultaneously as office manager for her husband's new insurance and financial services businesses under the umbrella of Frederick and Associates. In 1988, she named her business "Quick Refund Tax Service" and they both eventually moved their businesses into a joint office space.

In 1970, her life would change forever as she gave birth to their first daughter, Mary Fredereka. Two years later, she would give birth to their second daughter, Marla Faye. Employed full time outside of the home, she worked quadruple shifts as wife, mother, office manager and school teacher. She was indeed "Every Woman" before Whitney ever sang the song.

Over the years, Carolyn had been a faithful member of First Baptist Missionary Church, where she served early on with the Young Women's Auxiliary (YWA) as both a member and former president. In addition, she served with the Young Adult Choir, the Gospel Choir and the Pastor's Aid Committee. As a golden soror of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., she was actively involved with the Eta Zeta Omega Chapter in Sumter, having served previously as the Tamiochous/Treasurer and she was most recently selected to serve on the audit committee. She also served as an advocate/guardian ad litem for kids in the foster care system. She took joy in serving her community through many seen and unseen acts of kindness, considering it God's great work.

Carolyn leaves to cherish her memory: two daughters, Fredereka (Kelvin) McDuffie and Marla (Eric) Frederick-Pristell; a daughter by marriage, Brenda (Al) Sept. She loved her grandchildren and they will miss her dearly: four granddaughters, Tatyana, Tamera, Talia and Alkeah; two grandsons, Miles and Travis (Robin); six great-grandchildren, Nia, Jordan, Jalia, Imani, Kayla and Kyla; one aunt, Zona Robinson of Houston, Texas; and three sisters, Diane Gipson of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Angela (DeDe) Teats and Machelle Sims of Winnsboro. In addition, she leaves to mourn her loss and celebrate her memory a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Public viewing will be held from 2 to 6 p.m. today at Job's Mortuary.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. on Friday at First Baptist Missionary Church, 219 S. Washington St., Sumter, SC 29150 with the Rev. George P. Windley Jr. officiating. Interment will follow in Hillside Memorial Park, Sumter, SC 29150.

Job's Mortuary Inc., 312 S. Main St., Sumter, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be sent to the family at jobsmortuaryinc@gmail.com or visit us on the web at www.jobsmortuary.net.