Miss. Carolyn Maefield Culbreth

Carolyn Maefield Culbreth, 72, of Fayetteville, NC, passed away on Thursday, June 23, 2016 at UNC Memorial Hospital, Chapel Hill, NC surrounded by her family and loved ones.

    Born on January 29, 1944, in Cumberland County, NC., she was the daughter of the late Reese M. Culbreth, Sr. and Mildred Lee Culbreth. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Reese M. Culbreth, Jr.

    Carolyn was a 1962 graduate of Central High School and a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. After graduation, she utilized her creative talents to build a successful career in the fashion industry. She lived in Atlanta and then New York City where her work as a buyer for major retailers, including Sears and J.C. Penney’s, allowed her to travel extensively throughout the world. Most recently, she worked at Lisa’s Custom Framing in Fayetteville where she earned the reputation as the “go to” person for the most creative picture framing in town. She held certification through the Professional Picture Framers Association and taught picture framing at FTCC.

    Carolyn could accurately be described as a “Renaissance Woman.” She loved to travel, to explore and to learn new things. She was multi-talented but excelled at making beautiful things by hand. She was an expert seamstress, knitter and jewelry maker. Friends and family cherish the many gifts she made for them by hand.

    A life- long member of Bluff Presbyterian Church, Carolyn’s involvement with her church was of utmost importance. She served as an Elder, as head of the worship committee, as moderator of the Women of the Church, assisted in Vacation Bible School, and taught Sunday School. She gave of herself freely whenever called upon. In 2010 she was presented with Honorary Life Membership in Women of the Presbyterian Church, symbolizing her commitment and service to the church.

    Although she had an adventurous spirit, Carolyn’s heart was never far from home and family. She was very close with her aunts, uncles and many cousins. She delighted in her niece and nephews and her great nieces and nephews and loved to be involved in their activities. As she travelled throughout the world, she always remembered friends and family with special treasures.

    While working full-time, she was a helpmate and close companion to her mother Mildred. Carolyn and Mildred, along with family and friends, embarked on many trips and adventures together. Carolyn was a great source of comfort to her mother providing constant care until Mildred’s death in 2015.

    She is survived by one niece, Dana Hanna and husband Will of Gastonia, NC; two nephews Reese M. “Tripp” Culbreth, III and wife Elizabeth Gardner of Raleigh, NC and Lee Culbreth and wife Jamie Laney Culbreth of Columbia, SC; five great nieces and nephews, Reese, Max, Micajah, Peri, and Sydney.

    The family will receive friends from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2016 at Sullivan’s Highland Funeral Service. Funeral services will be held on Friday, July 1, 2016 at 11:00 a.m. at Sullivan’s Highland Funeral Service. Burial will follow in Old Bluff Presbyterian Church Cemetery in Godwin, NC.

    Memorials may be made to the Old Bluff Trust Fund or to the Old Bluff Tree Fund, P.O. Box 96, Wade, NC 28395.

    Services are entrusted to Sullivan's Highland Funeral Service and Crematory, Inc, of Fayetteville, NC.