Carolyn Patricia Pulley

Carolyn P. Pulley passed away on Tuesday, October 25, 2016 at her home in Williamsburg after a brief illness. The youngest child of Rose Bradshaw and Lloyd Clarence Pulley, she was born December 6, 1931, in the town of Ivor in Southampton County, Virginia. She was pre-deceased by her parents, four brothers, one half-brother, and four sisters. She is survived by her brother J. Reid Pulley and his wife Louise of Winston-Salem, NC; sisters-in-law Ann W. Pulley of Richmond and Elizabeth R. Pulley of Winchester; and many nieces, nephews and their families.

She was a graduate of Ivor High School, The College of William and Mary, and the University of Virginia where she received a Master’s Degree in Education. She started her career in education as a high school teacher in Newport News (Warwick High) and Fairfax County (McLean High) in the 1950’s and became Dean of Women at Averett College in Danville, Virginia in the 1960’s. In the early 1970’s she helped to open the new Virginia Beach Campus of Tidewater Community College in her role as the Coordinator of Counseling Services. She retired from TCC as the Coordinator of Enrollment Services in April 2005 after thirty-four years of service.

Ever at-the-ready with her warm and engaging smile, Carolyn spent her retirement years in Williamsburg. As a member of Walnut Hills Baptist Church, she participated in the Wednesday Women’s Bible Study and the Annette Hall Missions Group. She was a loyal supporter of W&M Athletics, attending as many Tribe football and basketball games as possible. She enjoyed frequent trips on the Jamestown-Scotland Ferry to return to her hometown of Ivor for high school reunions and visits with her childhood schoolmates known as “The Magnolia Girls.” She was a loving and devoted aunt and took great interest in the lives of her nieces, nephews and their children and grandchildren. Her Williamsburg home was the gathering place for countless and frequent visits from family and friends, far and near. She was deeply loved and will be greatly missed.

The family wishes to thank caregivers Beulah, Janie, Lou Ethel, and Ernestine as well as Iris and the others from Agape Home Care for their faithful service and loving support for Carolyn.

Visitation will be at Nelsen Funeral Home, 3785 Strawberry Plains Road on Friday, November 4 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. A funeral service at Nelsen Funeral Home is scheduled for Saturday November 5 at 11:00 a.m. with a 3:30 p.m. burial at Ivor Cemetery, 8750 Ivor Road, Ivor, VA.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the College of William and Mary Foundation, PO Box 1693, Williamsburg VA 23187 (please write “Pulley Family Endowment” in the memo line) or to Walnut Hills Baptist Church Memorial Fund, 1014 Jamestown Road, Williamsburg VA 23185—or to a charity of one’s choice. Online condolences may be shared with the family at www.nelsencares.com.