Carol Olethia Mcafee

Our dear Carol passed away on Tuesday, July 6, 2021, and we’ve been left with an empty space in our hearts. Some of her family members wanted to share their thoughts.

Mom recalls: “Carol was a delight to her parents’ hearts— a happy baby, and as her parents we were inspired to name her Carol, because it meant “song of joy.” At an early age, she was always interested in art, asking Pop to draw pictures for her. She liked going to school and soon developed her own talent for art, and even received a scholarship to the Chicago Art Institute. When she was in 7th or 8th grade, Carol was highlighted as an exceptional student on a special T.V. program (along with her teacher). Carol had an early relationship with God that lasted throughout her life. She was always outspoken and had a big heart to help others in need. I’m thankful that she was a part of our lives, and of course I love and miss her.”

Carl & Lucy wrote: “Our hearts are really heartbroken with the loss of our Dear Carol. We’ll miss her spirited video links to our shared political views. She was a True Patriot and a GODLY Woman. She's walking with Jesus now, so we’re happy about that.... but as her brother and sister-in-law we’ll truly miss her.”

Cathi remembers: “I looked up to my sister Carol as a trend setter and remember as a little girl thinking she was a model. She didn’t dress like anyone where we lived. I remember loving her copper-colored hair that she stumbled upon during her hair dying frenzies, and wanting to dye mine that same color. She was cosmopolitan, always wanting to travel and know people from other lands. Her amazing taste in music from all over the world was inspiring. Carol was unique— an individual, a spiritual person who wrote with depth and expression. I always told her how gifted she was with art, and how she could easily start her own greeting card company. Her love for the Arizona desert and the Native American people and culture was unmistakable. I hold dear the things we talked about when I saw her last. What a comfort to know that she’s with the Lord now. I miss her love and caring spirit. I miss my sister Carol.”

Mario says: “We are heartbroken as a family but are so blessed that we were able to spend time with her before she left us. She has truly been significant as a Mother, Sister, friend and my Aunt. Her faith was strong, and that gives us great comfort. I believe she is now with the Lord and experiencing joy far beyond our comprehension. The last days I spent with her were extra special, and we talked extensively about faith and love. Those conversations and prayers will stay in my thoughts.”

Rafi remembers: “During our last visit, Aunt Carol gave me a scripture from Isaiah 26:3… “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.” She seemed to perk up with my mention of how her kids needed her (no matter their age), and I could only imagine how much she wanted to bring peace to the family. I admired her artsy style, as well as her varied taste in music. At the end of our

last visit, I kept turning around to see her watch me walk away… and at that moment I missed her (and always will).”

Bill writes: “We joked that Carol was the hippie of the family. She was the most artistic with painting, dressing, poetry, and spiritual thinking. She was a sensitive caregiver and a cross country citizen. I continue to play a Bossa nova CD that she sent me several years ago. Now more than ever, it will bring back treasured memories of my sister and her extensive love of music.”

We love our Dear Carol. She has left her family with memories that we will forever treasure, and we are grateful for how she blessed each of our lives. As she wrote once in reference to life and the scripture below, “the Promises are of such great comfort.” May He be praised.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

Kim says: Thinking of my mom who has gone home to be with the Lord. She had a heart that desperately wanted to love and lift everyone up. I remember it being a running joke that we would call her a missionary. My mom taught me to trust in the Lord always. She taught me the importance of prayer. When I was 3 years old, she had kept me waiting all day for a “surprise” she had to give me. I was so excited! Finally, she said it was time for my surprise. The surprise was that she had a new prayer to teach me. As a 3 year old, I was totally deflated with that surprise, but here we are some 4 decades later, and I still know that surprise. The Lord’s Prayer. I will always carry with me the prayers, conversations, experiences, good & bad, and all the laughs we had over our lifetime. I miss my mom.

Aubrey remembers: My grandma was weird. She was a very interesting woman, but she taught me some very important things. Grandma taught me that God never leaves our sides, and how to have strong faith even when things are tough. She was my biggest fan whenever I sang and she was amazed at how many songs I had known the lyrics to at a young age. My last visit with her, she asked me to sing for her, and so I did. I wrote my own song a year or two ago that I never shared with her but that day I decided I should. As I sang she held one hand to the Lord to praise Him and the other she used to hold a pretend microphone, holding it up for me to sing. She cried as I sang and told me how beautiful it was. As I was leaving she said “I love you”, I replied with “I love you more”. She looked at me confused and said “I was going to say I love you

more-er but that’s not a word.” We laughed together and I said, “Grandma it’s I love you most”, and to that she said “Yes, I love you most.”

Caleb writes: One year we went to Southern California to visit everyone (can’t remember the year). We were all at Uncle William’s house for a while, Grandma had been there with us too. A bit of time went by and everyone left the house to go to Porto’s besides me, my sister, Grandma Stine and Grandma. I got pretty bored so I put on little funny cat videos, Grandma didn’t quite understand the whole memo of the videos. She 

looked over on a little clip of a cat in a wine glass and she says, “Why is the cat in the cup like that, oh Caleb.” and started crying about it, me and Aubrey laughed and tried telling her it was just a cute, funny cat video but she just kept crying about it. But I love my grandma, things may have been rocky at some points but at the end of the day she was still my grandma and we had lots of fun and good memories together.

Lauren writes: My mom. Born again, deeply spiritual, intelligent, an artist of many forms, an advocate of peace, forgiving, a sewer of seeds, steadfast, hippie type, caregiver, loyal, hardworking, a good neighbor, kind hearted, slightly stubborn, private, political, patient, preacher, poet, an empath,   Always there, would give her last & left a warm expression to those she encountered. A mom, a grandma, a sister & and an auntie. A treasure. An absolute privilege to be her daughter. I’m confident you are with our Heavenly Father, I rejoice knowing you’ve shed your earthly body for a heavenly one. We love you unconditionally. Watch over us, see how we learn & grow closer to God & one another. Thank you mom, for all the Random bible verses at times so needed. The Lord's word never comes back void. I love you forever.

-from the one who looks most like you ;)

Destinee says: I never thought I would have to be writing something for my grandma’s obituary, it hasn’t even felt real since she has been gone. It honestly just feels like she’s at her house waiting for me to come over. I can’t even count how many times I went over there crying about little things and she would always have her door open for me; her door was always open to everybody she loved. I can’t count how many times she would send me perfect bible verses and send me prayers that were perfectly lined up with how I felt at that moment. & I can’t count how many times I cried in the elevator heading up to my grandma's hospital room knowing my grandma wasn’t going to be with us physically anymore. We were the most compatible Taurus and Scorpio duo, a true stubborn gem. Nothing feels real right now, I’m gonna miss my grandma forever. I can live knowing she’s not in pain anymore and her prayers of perfect peace over me can be in full effect. She is whole where she is now and I just know she’s watching over me.

James says: I miss my grandma.

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