Carolyn Rae Clayton Vann, 78, of Waverly, GA, died September 14, 2024, in her home. Born October 9, 1945, in Greensboro, North Carolina to the late Fred Love Clayton and Hugue Vaughn Clayton. Carolyn was a dedicated Christian, a loving wife, mother and grandmother always putting her loved ones first.
Carolyn grew up in Charlotte, North Carolina. She met her husband, John, while still in high school. They married in 1967 and quickly kicked off what would turn out to be a blessed life together. In the beginning, she worked for Southern Bell but then chose to stay home and do what she thought of as her most important job - being a mother. Not long after the children were born, they were relocated to Avon Lake, Ohio where she formed new friendships and got involved in the local theater. After ten years, they were relocated again to St. Louis, Missouri.
In the early 1990s she and John were given the opportunity of a lifetime and moved to Hong Kong where she immersed herself in the local culture. There she worked as a Relocation Associate introducing newcomers to all that Hong Kong had to offer whether it was the hottest restaurants, where to live, and, of course, the best shopping. While in Asia, she took advantage of the opportunity to travel visiting Australia and New Zealand, Egypt and Dubai, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia, and many other beautiful countries.
When they came home to the US, John retired and they kicked off their next adventure – sailing. They sailed along the east coast, as far north as the Chesapeake Bay, all the way around the tip of Florida, to the Tampa area eventually making Brunswick their homeport. There were multiple trips across the Gulf Stream to the Bahamas and charters in the British Virgin Islands. She often said the best part of sailing was the lifelong friends she made. It was usually during one of her calls to the children while sitting on the boat with those friends during a sunset that she would share how lucky she was.
Carolyn had a beautiful, loving, adventurous, caring soul. She never met a stranger always greeting everyone with her bright smile. She was always drawn to animals whether stopping to pet every dog that crossed her path or sitting on the front porch watching the deer at dusk. If she wasn’t out on an adventure or sailing, you would likely catch her shopping. She was always on the go.
In addition to her parents, Carolyn was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Jean Clayton, sister, Kathy Basham, and brother, Randy Clayton.
Carolyn is survived by her husband, John Raymond Vann of Waverly, GA; two children Amanda Rae Vann of Marietta, GA, Jeffrey Livingston Vann and daughter-in-law Jamie Peniston Vann, of Kirkwood, MOi; five grandchildren, Carter Livingston Vann, Reese Carolyn Faulkner, Rowan Sandra Faulkner, Chloe Nicole Vann, and Vann Clayton Faulkner; brothers Fred Love Clayton, Jr. (Dusty) and Carl Thomas Clayton (Tom) and sister-in-law Shelby Clayton; and sisters Patty Burrows and Vicki Jarrell.
A visitation will be held at St. Simons United Methodist Church on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at 10:00am and a celebration of life at 11:00am. A private interment will be held at Christ Church Cemetery, St. Simons Island immediately following the celebration.
In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the Georgia Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association for research purposes via this link Georgia Chapter (alz.org) or to St. Simons United Methodist Church, 624 Ocean Boulevard, St. Simons Island, GA 31527.
Edo Miller and Sons Funeral Home is overseeing the arrangements.
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