Carrolyn Novesta Williams Obituary (1943 - 2017)

Carrolyn Novesta Williams was born February 10, 1943 to Edna Tatum Williams and Clifton Willis Williams. She was educated in the Durham, North Carolina public school system before completing high school at the Laurinburg Institute in Laurinburg, North Carolina in 1960. Carrolyn then entered North Carolina College where she graduated Magna Cum Laude in 1964. While at NCC, she earned the University Scholastic Award in 1961 through 1964 and became a member of the Alpha Kappa Mu Honorary Society. She also pledged Alpha Kappa Alpha as her mother had before her at the same school. Carrolyn then relocated to Rye, New York in Westchester County and began her decades long relationship with the New York City Board of Education. In 1972, she earned a Master of Education degree from the City College of New York while teaching and raising her son, Jon Dean Williams. She at first taught and then became a Dean of Students with the New York City Board of Education. From 1974 to 1976, Carrolyn became a full time graduate student seeking a degree from New York University. She was awarded a PhD in Psychology from NYU also earning a NYU Graduate School Scholarship Award and a NYU Alumnae Award. During her tenure with the NYC Board of Education, Carrolyn was a teacher of Exceptional Children, trained teachers in substance abuse education and was a guidance teacher. After a brief stay in the Bronx, NY, Carrolyn moved to East Orange, New Jersey where she bought the first of two homes in East Orange and several more in Montclair, New Jersey. Carrolyn loved sports and cooking. She was a competitive tennis player in high school and college and loved to swim. She loved nothing more than cooking, gardening, entertaining and following the political winds of the day. She was a vociferous reader of all things political, psychological and humanitarian. She was a member of the NJ Branch of the North Carolina Central University Alumni Association. Dr. Williams was a Maryknoll Affiliate and represented Maryknoll at the United Nations where she was also a volunteer in the NGO Branch championing women rights, child soldiers and AIDS. She was also a member of the National Council of Women USA. She received several Certificates of Appreciation from the Sing Sing Correctional facility for the volunteer work she did there. After her move to East Orange, she quickly became entrenched in the local community affairs hoping to stabilize her community by joining and promoting home association involvement. She was awarded for these efforts by the City of East Orange for her outstanding service and dedication to the community. After retirement in 1995, Carrolyn embarked on a second career in real estate and fulfilling her lifelong desire to travel. She did this until ill health prohibited her from doing so. Carrolyn took seriously the title of eldest sister, which she was, and as such, her home was open from a few days, to a few months to a few years for her family. She was preceded in death by her mother, Edna T. Swann and father, Clifton Willis Williams, and siblings Clifton and Brenda Williams. She is survived by a son, Jon Dean Williams, a granddaughter, Stephanie D. Williams and sisters, Janet Swann. Diane Swann and Wanda Ibru and brother in law Oskar Ibru and a host of nieces and nephews.