Carolyn Hayes Crowe

Carolyn Hayes Crowe of Birmingham, Alabama passed away on Monday, November 14, 2022, at the age of 82. Carolyn loved her family deeply, and always shared the gospel in bold and encouraging ways. She died peacefully with her beloved daughters and sons-in-law by her side.

Carolyn was born in Bremen, Georgia on December 23, 1939, to Gaspard and Dorothy Hayes. The oldest of four children, Carolyn attended Bremen High School, Bessie Tift College in Forsyth, Georgia, and ultimately graduated from Auburn University with a degree in Home Economics.

Carolyn was known as a creative steward of her God given gifts. She found beauty in art, gardening, and music. She enjoyed teaching and encouraging those with an interest in painting. If you were to visit her home, you could see masterpieces in progress on her sunlit back porch.

Carolyn valued relationships deeply, always impacting those around her with her unique ability to bring joy and light into any room. From her college days at Auburn University with her Phi Mu sisters, to her and her husband, Bob, shepherding her Sunday School class at Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Carolyn always found a way to connect with others. Her ability to make others feel welcome combined with her gracious hospitality, made her home a place full of warmth, happiness, and acceptance. She encompassed the Gospel in her everyday life, and impacted those around her, to grow closer to the Lord.

Her love of family was unsurpassed! She made family holidays and life events “tremendous happenings”, while dancing and laughing with her family surrounding her. She prayed for her family constantly, either by adding a “P.S.” to the end of one of Bob’s prayers, or by journaling extensively in her Bible or devotional books. She loved all that surrounded her, leaving her love for Jesus as a legacy for her children, grandchildren, and soon to be great-granddaughter.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Robert Rabern Crowe, daughter Julia Anne Crowe, and sister Anne Guthrie. She is survived by her children Melanie Crowe Hughes (Gary Hughes) and Susan Crowe Lynch (Tom Lynch); grandchildren Caroline Dorris, Taylor Hughes, Christopher Dorris (Katie), Lucy Hughes McKelvey (Kevin), and Julie Anne Dorris; and brother John Hayes (Diane) and sister Sue Hitchcock (Rex).

A celebration of Carolyn’s life is planned for Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 2 pm. The service will be at Briarwood Presbyterian Church in Birmingham, Alabama. People wishing to honor Carolyn’s lifelong commitment to family and community can make memorial donations to the Briarwood Missions at Briarwood Presbyterian Church Missions Ministry - Missions (briarwood.org).

For I have no greater joy than this, that my children know the Lord. (3 John 1:4)

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