Carolyn Brower

Emily Carolyn Brower (née Priester) was born on October 12, 1934, on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Lamar E. Priester and Maude Benjamin Priester. Carolyn’s mother, an RN, delivered her into the world unassisted when her husband was unable to return in time with the doctor. A graduate of Winyah High School, she wed Roland C. Brower Jr., a young Marine, in 1954; for the next twenty years she served her country as a military spouse, living in locations as far-flung from the South Carolina Lowcountry as Bethesda, Maryland, and Honolulu, Hawaii. During these years, Roland and Carolyn welcomed two sons, Edward (born 1959) and Charles (born 1965). After Roland’s retirement from the Marine Corps, the family settled in Irmo, South Carolina.

Carolyn was for many years an instructional assistant at Dutch Fork Elementary School, where she was known and loved by her coworkers as “Ma.” Even after her retirement, she remained close particularly to the “Dutch Fork Seven,” a circle of dear friends from those working years. She was also a dedicated member of Salem United Methodist Church of long standing who loved her church family wholeheartedly. She sang alto in the church choir for decades, served in various offices on the church’s executive committee, United Methodist Women group, and women’s circles, taught Sunday school, and contributed in innumerable other ways to the church’s mission to minister with a glad heart to those in need.

In October 2024, Carolyn celebrated her ninetieth birthday with a party at which many friends and family whose lives she’d touched through Dutch Fork Elementary, Salem, and the Marine Corps League, which she and Roland were active members of, came to show their love for her. The party was held at Generations of Irmo, where she had lived since 2018 and where she was also loved for her kindness and good humor.

Carolyn was preceded in death by Roland, beloved son Edward, and her dear brother and sister-in-law, Lamar and Virginia Priester. She is survived by her son Charles and daughter-in-law, Liz Beasley, of Durham, NC; niece Lisa Ball of Hampton, SC; cousin Louise Holmes of Columbia, SC; and numerous relatives and lifetime friends who miss her dearly.

A memorial service will be held at 12 noon on December 19, 2024, at Salem United Methodist Church in Irmo, SC; family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at Fort Jackson National Cemetery at 2 pm. Please consider a memorial gift to the Navy–Marine Corps Relief Society (https://www.nmcrs.org/).