WALTERBORO:     Mrs. Carolyn Carter Kugley Powers, widow of both the late Lieutenant Eugene Earle Kugley, and the late James "Jimmy" Weldon Powers, passed away Friday, September 27, 2024 at the Trident Medical Center in Charleston.  She was 83.

Carolyn was born in Walterboro, SC on November 3, 1940 and the daughter of the late William Edward Carter and the late Evelyn Grace Ackerman Carter McQuage.  She graduated from Walterboro High School, and attended Columbia College, where she received her degree in Elementary Education. For over 36 years, she was a beloved teacher of first graders in both the private and public school systems of Colleton County.  The last ten years of her career was spent in the Reading Recovery Program where she was able to focus on her passion of teaching children to read.

Carolyn was a member of Bethel United Methodist Church in Walterboro, where she was active in the food pantry, the Sally Starr Circle, Bible study group, and various church committees.  She was a member of the Will Goodwin Sunday School Class.  In years past she sang in the choir, taught Sunday School, and was a member of the "Ding a Lings" handbell choir. Carolyn was a member of the "Wildcat Girls" and enjoyed monthly lunches with her high school friends.  She was also a member of the Walterboro Elks Lodge #1988 where she enjoyed the pool and sharing Wednesday night suppers with her friends.  She loved her church family and community dearly, and often felt she was not doing enough for others because so much had been done for her over the years.  She was a born educator with a life long love of learning with a faithful, loving, and compassionate heart.  She was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister and friend who never met a stranger.  She always wanted to make everyone feel welcomed and loved.

Her greatest joy was to be with her family especially her beloved granddaughters.  She rarely missed any activity in which they were involved and was their biggest fan and supporter.  All of her granddaughters' friends became her adopted grandchildren and also called her "Mimi".

Carolyn is survived by her daughter Elizabeth "Beth" Kugley Powers Williams, and her husband Albert "Bubba" W. Williams Jr., of Charleston.  She leaves behind her two precious granddaughters, Lindsey Faye Googer (Jack) and Lauren Elizabeth Williams.  She is also survived by her sister Nancy Carter Spell (Whit), by her nephew Chad Spell (Paige), and by her great niece and nephew Kylie and Kaden Spell.  There is also a host of other beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and extended family.  In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by her precious daughter, Deborah "Debbie" Faye Powers.

Funeral services will be held Friday morning, October 4, 2024 at 11:00 at Bethel United Methodist Church in Walterboro, with burial following in the Live Oak Cemetery. In accordance with her wishes, the family requests that bright colors be worn to celebrate her life.  A visitation will be Thursday evening from 5:00 until 7:00 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethel United Methodist Church, 355 Hampton Street, Walterboro, SC  29488 or to the Hamilton-Jones-Powers Memorial Scholarship at Converse University in Spartanburg, SC, that was established in memory of her daughter Debbie.

Parker-Rhoden Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.