Carolyn Joyce Anderson

Carolyn Anderson, the daughter of John Willie and Margaret Green of Johnsville, Arkansas was born on April 15, 1944, the third of ten children, four of whom, (Eddie Green, Willie Mervyn Green, Harold Green, and Billy Jean Belcher) preceded her in death. She joined Palestine AME church as a young woman and remained a member until getting married in 1964 to Rev. Carroll Anderson. She then went on to serve as a First Lady in the 12th District of the AME church for over 55 years; serving congregations in Little Rock, North Little Rock, Sweet Home, Pine Bluff, Sherrill, Marianna, and Hope, Arkansas.

Carolyn graduated from Westside High School in Hermitage, Arkansas, attended Arkansas Baptist College and later worked for 29 years as a Department Manager and Assistant Store Manager at MM Cohn’s Department Store in University Mall in Little Rock before retiring.

Carolyn was active in Women’s Missionary Society of the African Methodist Episcopal Church from her earliest days at Palestine AME. She saw this work as a way of putting her faith into action and as a way to share the joy of belief with a community of caring and wonderful people. She attended five General Conferences (four as an elected delegate) served at the Local, Conference, and Connectional Levels of the Society including attending six Quadrennial meetings (four as an elected delegate) and being elected President of the Arkansas Conference WMS and later receiving an ‘Unsung Hero” award from the Connectional WMS.

Carolyn also served as a member of the Minister’s Spouses organization, CONN M SWAWO participating at all levels of the organization as a way of sharing her faith across the church. After her retirement, Carolyn remained active with the Hattie Davis WMS at her home church, Union AME Church in Little Rock, and served on the Stewardess Board.

Carolyn was married to Rev. Carroll Anderson for 57 years until his death in 2021. She leaves to mourn her one son, Dr. Kevin Anderson, three sisters, Sherry Smith (Son Eric Daughters Sonja and Courtney), Stella Jackson, (Son Derron, Daughter Chante) and Janie Mayes (Husband Clyde; Daughter Kea) of Los Angeles, CA. and two brothers, Donny Green (Son Kerry, Daughters Tiffany and Katrina) and Freddie Green (Wife Stella; Sons, Damon, Randy, Freddie Jr and Daughter Brianna) of Little Rock, Arkansas. She is the mother of Kevin Anderson of Champaign, Illinois. She is the Godmother of eight (8) children; Kerry, Katrina, and Tiffany Green, Kea Mayes, Dionysius Anderson, Jessie Hillard, Carol Ross, Jaylen Johnson and Michael Washington, Jr. A host of Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and Friends who will mourn and miss her today and everyday going forward.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, October 29, 2024 at Union AME Church with interment to follow at Roselawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be the evening prior, 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Monday, October 28, 2024 at Griffin Leggett Healey & Roth Funeral Home.