Carolyn Reeves Metcalf

Carolyn R. Metcalf Carolyn R. Metcalf, age 90 of Tallahassee, FL died on March 30, 2022. Carolyn was born in Midland City, Alabama. She moved with her family to Tallahassee in the 1940s, graduated from Leon High School, and continued her education at Florida State University where she majored in music.

She met the love of her life, Frank D. Metcalf, in 1948 at Lakeview Baptist Church, married on August 26, 1951 and had 70 wonderful years together before he died in December 2021. Both Carolyn and Frank always commented that they would not change a thing.

Carolyn enjoyed music throughout her life. When she was in 10th Grade, Carolyn directed a young people’s choir at Immanuel Baptist Church. She was hired in September 1951 by First Baptist Church in DeFuniak Springs to direct graded choirs and continued until their first son was born. Several years later she directed adult choirs in Valdosta, Georgia and Mebane, North Carolina. In Rustburg, Virginia, she led children’s and adult choirs. After her husband became an Air Force chaplain, she directed children’s and adult choirs in Air Force chapels and an Army chapel including K. I. Sawyer Air Force Base (1963-1966), Michigan, Evreux-Fauville Air Base, France (July and August, 1966) Ramstein Air Base, Germany (1966-1969), Castle AFB, California (1969-1970), Church of God Anderson, Atwater, California while her husband was in Vietnam (1970-1971), Keesler Air Force Base, Mississippi (1971-1974), and Yongsan Army Garrison, Seoul, Korea (1975-1977). There are many wonderful memories of each choir, but the one at Memorial Chapel in Korea made a great impact. With a choir of over fifty voices, most of them were Koreans who wanted to know more about Christ and the English language.

She was asked by missionaries in Korea to teach Spoken English at one of the universities. The Koreans could read and write English but had no idea of the pronunciation. When she saw puzzled faces in the classroom, she knew to write what she was saying on the board so they would understand. What an opportunity! Now there are probably several Koreans speaking English with a Southern drawl!

After Frank retired from the Air Force in 1986, Carolyn and Frank lived in Tallahassee until moving to Oyster Bay in Wakulla County in 1992.

While living in Oyster Bay, Carolyn used to speak at Seafarers Chapel at Shell Point as well as directing the music there each Sunday.

Certified as an instructor in Couple Communication, Christian Marriage Enrichment, Parent Effectiveness Training and Positive Image Building, she co-taught these seminars with her husband, Frank. With Frank, she co-authored and co-facilitated Growing Through Grief, Marriage Enrichment, and Stretching Money.

In May 2019, Carolyn and Frank moved back to Tallahassee. Carolyn was a wonderful Mother (and surrogate Mother!). Just like her husband, she was a sweet, gentle, kind and loving soul.

Carolyn is survived by her sons, Tom and Ken (Debbie); grandchildren David, Jamie (Justin) and Annalee; great-grandchildren Layne, Olive and River; sisters Marjorie Jones and June Strickland (Lew).

The Metcalf family invites you to celebrate the life of Carolyn on Wednesday, April 6, 2022. The visitation will begin at 6pm and the service will follow at 7pm. Both in the Capital Room of Culley’s MeadowWood Funeral Home – Riggins Road Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Second Harvest of the Big Bend, 4446 Entrepot Blvd, Tallahassee, FL 32310 (https://fightinghunger.org) and Big Bend Hospice Foundation, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308. (https://bigbendhospice.org)

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