Carolyn Elaine Bailey White was born on November 1, 1939 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She was the youngest of seven children born to Thomas Green Bailey, Sr., & Mae Ella King Bailey (Sedenna, Edward, Thomas, Jr., Terry, Mae, Ray and  Carolyn).  Carolyn went home to be with the Lord during the early morning hours of September 14, 2025.

Carolyn received her B.S. degree from Hampton Institute in 1962, and her M.Ed. in Secondary Education and Communications from Southern University in 1975.  She began her life-long  career of teaching in  Washington, D.C. in 1962, and in 1963, Carolyn began teaching Reading and English to 5th and 6th grade students within the Oxnard School District (located in Southern California).  Carolyn was also a licensed Real Estate Broker and Interior Decorator, and operated her own businesses, Carolyn White Realty and She Designs for many years while living in the Southern California area.

Carolyn earned an excellent reputation during her 38 years of teaching as a  talented, dedicated educator, and she retired from the Oxnard School District in 2001.  After her retirement she relocated to Monticello, Florida, in 2003, where she became a member of the Jefferson County Retired Educators  Association, and the Capital City Garden Club—Petunia Circle.  Carolyn was also a dedicated member of Bethel AME Church in Monticello, Florida, where she served as a member of the Adult Choir.  In later years, Carolyn became a member of Jacob Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Tallahassee, Florida, where she served as a member of the Deaconess Board.

Carolyn loved her family and served as the matriarch for many, many years.  In 1988, God gave her a vision of a house located on a large piece of land somewhere on the East Coast.  In July of 2007, she began construction on a  house in Jefferson County, Florida, which she entitled "Serenade Oaks", and today, it not only serves as the Bailey Family Compound, but also operates as a venue space available to host special events.

Carolyn met her future husband, Dr. Charles E. White, in March 1961, in the student grill at Hampton Institute in Hampton, Virginia.  Charles was waiting to meet someone else, and after they met, he offered to walk her to dance practice.  Charles and Carolyn made a date to go to a movie off-campus that Saturday, got engaged to the following Monday, and were married two days later.  Charles was drafted in the US Military the next day and served for two years while Carolyn finished her college education.  Charles and Carolyn remained married for over 40 years.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her son, the late Cordell Everett White, in March 2021.  Carolyn leaves to cherish her memory, her daughter, Cristin    Erica White of Tallahassee, Florida; her bonus son, Dr. Hamilton K. Ervin of Dallas, Texas; a host of nieces, nephews and close friends; a devoted caregiver, Mrs. Lynnette Smiley of Bainbridge, Georgia; and her bonus Tallahassee family headed by Mr. and Mrs. Terry B. Arnold, Sr.  Her wish was that the present and future generations of the Bailey Clan know their history, know the importance of family, and pass this legacy on to their children.   She will be truly missed, but her spirit will live on in each of us.