Carolyn Musser Rochelle

Carolyn Jane Musser Rochelle, age 83, passed away peacefully in her sleep on October 20, 2021, after a long illness. She was born September 12, 1938, in Rural Retreat, Virginia, to Forrest Holmes Musser and Lelia Jane Grubb. Carolyn was well loved in her small town and everywhere. She graduated as a valedictorian at Rural Retreat High School and won a music medal award for playing a Rachimanoff composition. She went on to major in Education at James Madison University (formerly Madison College) where she graduated fourth in her class with a Bachelor of Arts in Education. Education was her passion.

After graduation from JMU, Carolyn first taught English and History in Fairfax County, VA, and then years later resumed teaching in Charles County, Maryland. Many students loved her, even one student wrote an essay on her. Continuing education as her passion, Carolyn was a college administrator at the College of Southern Maryland and was an American with Disabilities Act Coordinator to help ensuring students with disabilities that their needs were met; and she also taught English and English Sign Language. After receiving grants, she also helped started a new transportation called “VAN GO” in Charles County, MD, after when she visited Nanjemoy, she was shocked and appalled at the poor’s terrible conditions. To this day, VAN GO has been successfully expanded to help people in need travel.

Carolyn was a dedicated mother first and foremost. She treasured her daughters and granddaughter and loved her role as mother and grandmother. She had a sparklingly beautiful personality and always made people around her laugh. She loved to love people in need. Her mother used to tell Carolyn, “Be kind to one another.” She lived by Ephesians 4:32: “And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.”

Carolyn was a loving mother of daughters: Natalie Jane Rochelle of Alexandria, VA, and Karen (John) Ruth Rochelle Dear of Cary, NC; and a loving grandmother of granddaughter, Sophia Ryland Dear. She is survived by her brother, Franklin Love Musser, of Springfield, VA; and her nephews and nieces.

Carolyn was a longtime member of Good Shepherd UMC, and her strong Christian faith was very important to her. She was a member of National Society of Colonial Dames of the 17th Century and National Society of United States Daughters of 1812.

Family and friends are invited to attend visiting hours on Tuesday, October 26, from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in Demaine Funeral Home, 520 South Washington Street, Alexandria, VA 22314. A funeral service will be conducted at Good Shepherd United Methodist Church, 305 Smallwood Drive, Waldorf, MD 20602-2879 on Wednesday, October 27, at 11:00 a.m. followed by a burial at 1:00 p.m. at Mount Comfort Cemetery, 6600 South Kings Highway, Alexandria, VA 22306.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Holston United Methodist Home for Children, 404 Holston Drive, Greenville, Tennessee 37743 @ www.holstonhome.org.