Carolyn Brooks

Carolyn Brooks, age 82, passed away on Friday, September 1, 2023. She was born as an only child in Lyons, Georgia, on August 13, 1941, to the late Annie Mae Mayes and Rema Sauls, Carolyn Sauls Brooks of Lexington, South Carolina. After completing school in Lyons, class of 1959, she moved to Savannah, GA where she attended Boland-Draught Business School. It was there she met and married Robert Young, and had a beautiful daughter, Lisa.

Carolyn became the mother of four more children after God sent her the gift of Charles Brooks whom she met in Atlanta, GA.

Carolyn’s life was one of service, business executive, and action in community affairs. She was a member of Saxe Gotha Presbyterian Church and a lifetime member of the order of the Eastern Star and Beta Sigma Phi sorority. Whatever her commitments, she performed par excellence. With honesty, integrity and respect, she lived her life. Carolyn was a friend to many and loved entertaining and hosting events for many reasons and causes, included but not exclusive of her Golden Hills Ladies Golf Association, Golden Hills Garden Club, bunco group, and bridge clubs.

Owner of The Carlton Company of Columbia and the Harmon Bennett Agency in Lexington, she served as president of the Columbia Insurance Women as well as the South Carolina Insurance Women. In 1981, she was named Insurance Woman of the Year for Columbia Association of Insurance Women, 1982 President of Columbia Association of Insurance Women, 1984 First woman to serve on SC Independent Insurance Agents Association Board, 1984 VIP of the Year for Insurance Women of Columbia, and 1986 State President of SC Insurance Women Association. After purchasing the Lexington agency, she became involved in the Lexington Chamber of Commerce and was presented the A.L. Harmon Award in 1994 for her outstanding individual service and support of the greater Lexington Chamber. She served on the board of the Columbia Chamber of Commerce and in 1986, was the first recipient of the Athena Award. She also served as president of the St. Andrews/Irmo Chamber of Commerce. Carolyn was the founding member of the Lexington Network of Female Executives (LNFE) in 1990, whose focus was and still is, to promote the interest of women who are in executive and professional positions, providing support, encouragement, and opportunities to learn and stay abreast of community happenings to women of responsibility and influence.

Carolyn was the co-founder of the Pulmonary Fibrosis Support Group of the midlands. The Town of Lexington County proclaimed on September 3, 2019 as Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Month to help bring awareness to Pulmonary Fibrosis, which affects over 200,000 people in the United States. She accepted this award on behalf of all that suffer from this disease. September is nationally recognized as Pulmonary Fibrosis awareness month.

After retirement, traveling to all 50 states and many foreign countries with her husband captured her time. They enjoyed playing golf together around the world. Carolyn is survived by her daughter, Lisa Asmer (Norman) of West Columbia, SC and four stepchildren who really do not take on the role of ‘step’ in any way. They are, Gail Swiggart (Bill) of Nashville, TN, Charles Brooks III (Laina) of Knoxville, TN, Marie Sawyer (Bill) of Merritt Island, FL, and Amy Etchison (Michael) of Orlando, FL. Carolyn has two grandchildren, Jamie Witherspoon and Tiffanie Brooks of Columbia, SC from daughter, Lisa, and 16 more from Charlie's four children. She loved telling everyone she had five children, 16 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren. She also leaves behind her faithful cat, Tucker that always stayed by her side until the end.

A visitation for Carolyn will be held Thursday, September 7, 2023 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - Lexington Chapel, 503 North Lake Drive, Lexington, South Carolina 29072. A funeral service will occur Friday, September 8, 2023 at 11:00 AM at Caughman-Harman Funeral Home - Lexington Chapel with burial to follow at Woodridge Memorial Park located at 138 Corley Mill Road, Lexington, SC 29072.

Carolyn, your time here may be up, but your gift of life you have left will never have an expiration date. Residents of Lexington and Columbia, SC and Golden Hills Golf and Country Club are honored to have shared time on this planet with you. Your love of God, His world, mankind, and Charlie will be remembered for a long, long time.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.caughmanlexington.com for the Brooks family.