Born on April 3, 1941, to a mother who defied thirteen miscarriages and doctors’ warnings that another pregnancy could cost her life, Carolyn entered this world against extraordinary odds. Emma Carolyn Whitley, lovingly known simply as Carolyn, peacefully entered eternal rest on June 15, 2026, at the age of 85, following a courageous journey with pancreatic cancer. It was just five years after a dramatic comeback from breast cancer and neuropathy. Throughout her fulfilling and happy life, she continued inspiring others through her resilience, grace, creativity, unwavering love, and even in her final days, by continuing to defy the odds.”

To know Carolyn was to feel welcomed. Whether you were family, friend, neighbor, student, coworker, or someone she had just met, she greeted everyone with a warm smile, genuine kindness, and an open heart. Many student leaders throughout Newark affectionately called her “Mommy Carolyn” because of her extraordinary gift for making everyone feel like family. One globe-trotting bonus daughter fondly recalled Carolyn’s joyful greeting, ‘Welcome home, baby,’ a lasting expression of the warmth and unconditional love she extended to everyone. She even followed her father’s advice of always welcoming others by naming the first miniature house she ever built, Heremakhanon (meaning ‘Welcome House’ in Malinkè, a West Afrikan language).

A graduate of Arts High School in Newark, the nation’s first public high school specializing in the visual and performing arts, Carolyn majored in Visual Art before continuing her studies at the Newark School of the Arts. Her lifelong creativity found expression in countless ways—from museum-quality miniature homes and beautifully designed interiors to breathtaking gardens, artwork, and handcrafted gifts that delighted family and friends. One of her miniature creations was featured in a museum exhibit, and another appeared in a national miniature magazine.

Carolyn devoted much of her professional life to the Newark Board of Education, where her initiative, creativity, and leadership consistently took her far beyond the responsibilities of her official positions. Beginning as a secretary and later serving as an Executive Assistant, her contributions became so significant that the Board created an entirely new Civil Service position specifically for her: Coordinator of Secondary School Activities. In that pioneering role, she developed and coordinated leadership programs, conferences, and educational activities for student leadership organizations that positively influenced generations of young people.

She also faithfully served for more than two decades as President of the Arts High School PTSO and later held that same leadership role long term within the Arts High Alumni Association.

As one of the founding residents of New Hope Village in East Orange, New Jersey, Carolyn worked alongside her dear friend Barbara Motley to establish Girl Scouts, Brownies, youth enrichment programs, and numerous community initiatives that strengthened neighborhood life. She remained an active leader in civic affairs through the Newark Board of Education, Newark City Council, and various educational and community organizations.

A lifelong learner, Carolyn filled her home with books, newspapers, magazines, encyclopedias, art, and lively conversation. She nurtured curiosity in her daughters by encouraging them to seek knowledge, ask questions, and discover answers for themselves. An avid student of Africana history, genealogy, politics, and current events, she became the treasured historian and griot of her extended family, coordinating family reunions, presenting genealogical research and creatively made family trees that preserved family history, helping relatives write their cherished loved ones obituaries, and helping others trace their roots.

Following retirement to her beloved North Carolina home, affectionately named Rainbow’s End, Carolyn embraced her golden years by continuing to fulfill her purpose as an advocate. She gave genealogy presentations, volunteered in a couple of schools and a school library in Pender and New Hanover County plus the Pender County Museum. She followed in her parents’ footsteps by becoming very active in the NAACP and the church her ancestors built both literally and figuratively, St. John’s Missionary Baptist Church in Rocky Point.

Moreover, Ms. Whitley continued creating beauty, peace, and joy through interior and exterior designs seen in her spectacular gardens, home and holiday decor, miniature artistry, painting, and the warm hospitality that made everyone feel at home. Her exceptional home cooking for family and visitors from near and far became even more legendary, often prompting delighted guests to ask,“When are you opening a restaurant—or a bed-and-breakfast???!!!”

Above all, Carolyn will be remembered for the way she loved. She believed in seeing the good in people, almost never judged others, and rarely spoke an unkind word about anyone. Even in life’s deepest disappointments, she chose grace over resentment and compassion over condemnation, leaving a legacy of extraordinary love, kindness, service, and generosity that will continue inspiring generations to come.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Andrew Simpson Sr. and Manela Larkins-Simpson; her maternal grandparents, Carrie Williams-Larkins and Charlie Larkins; her paternal grandparents, Emma Bordeaux-Simpson and Joseph P. Simpson Sr.; her estranged husband, James Dallas Whitley; her adored daughters, Lynn Chanté Head-Whitley and bonus daughter, Janet Mae Hedmann-Sutton (son-in-law Chuck Sutton); brother-in-law Larry Armstrong; nephew Harry Lee Davis; and many treasured relatives and friends.

She is lovingly survived by her cherished daughter, DeAnna Joy Whitley; sister, Anna Rae Simpson-Davis; brother, Andrew Martin Darnell Simpson II and sister-in-law Wanda Simpson; sister-in-law, Betty Armstrong; nieces Carol Davis-Young and Sabrena Armstrong; nephews Charles Davis and his wife Lula Davis; plus DJ, Dante, and Daniel Simpson; several great nieces & nephews; loads of beloved cousins, many of whom were more like siblings, and their descendants more like nieces, and nephews + bonus ones; dear friends more like family including Pat Lewis, Alberta Shariff, Deborah Smith-Gregory, countless beloved former students; bonus daughters Michelle Johnson-Walker, Cecilia Woloch, Deborah Foster-Donaldson, Michelle Stinson, Erica Wright-Bracey, and countless others whose lives were forever enriched by her kindness, wisdom, and love.

The woman who walked this earth like an angel leaves behind a legacy of creativity, service, beauty, learning, and unconditional love. For decades, Carolyn lovingly embodied the importance of genealogy, helped relatives write the obituaries of those they cherished most, and helped others trace their roots. Looking back, perhaps that was no coincidence. Maybe, without even realizing it, she was quietly teaching one final lesson:

Every life has a story worth preserving.

She spent decades preserving the stories of others. In the end, her daughter lovingly and painstakingly preserved hers.

Carolyn’s final chapter was marked by the devoted care of this daughter, DeAnna Joy Whitley, who lovingly became the selfless caregiver to the mother who had spent a lifetime unconditionally loving and caring for others.In the end, the daughter she nurtured became the daughter who lovingly nurtured her. In life’s beautiful circle, before the curtain gently closed, Carolyn was also surrounded by the faithful love, prayers, and presence of family and dear friends who kept watch over her throughout her final journey.

Though her physical presence is gone, the warmth she shared will continue to bloom in the lives she touched and in the countless hearts that found a forever home in hers. So perhaps she now lives on through you. Some may think we are just gathering soon to mourn Carolyn’s ending. What we are actually doing is celebrating her home-going. And if Heaven echoes the life she lived on earth, perhaps the welcome she received sounded something like this::

“Job well done. Life well lived. Welcome home, Baby.”

Family, friends, and all whose paths crossed with Emma’s are invited to honor her memory during the upcoming services. A visitation will be held at Dunn Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 810 W Wilmington St, Burgaw, NC 28425, on June 26, 2026, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM. On June 27, at St. John Missionary Baptist Church, 22140 North Carolina 210, Rocky Point, NC 28457, there will be a viewing from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM. This will be followed by a Celebration of Life service at the same church, located at 22071 NC-210, Rocky Point, NC 28457, beginning at 11:00 AM. 

As we gather to remember Emma Carolyn Whitley a more detailed obituary is fourth coming.