Carolyn Rutledge
In Memory of
Carolyn Faye
Rutledge
1937 - 2017
Memorial Candle Tribute From
James H. Cole Home for Funerals - Main Chapel
"We are honored to provide this Book of Memories to the family."
View full message >>>

Obituary for Carolyn Faye Rutledge

Carolyn Faye  Rutledge
Carolyn Faye Marbury Rutledge was born October 20, 1937 in South Pittsburgh, Tennessee to the late Clara Frances Marbury and Clarence Sherman Mobley. She is the oldest of six children. Her sister, Shewinna Mobley Buttram preceded her in death.

She spent her youth in Tennessee and later moved to Detroit at age 12 where she lived with her Mother and Stepdad, the late Willie McWilliams. She attended McMichael Middle School where she met her childhood friend Betty Lewis. She attended Northwestern High School where she was on the Tennis team. There she met her best friend Juliette Sanders. She is a graduate of Northwestern High School class of 1956.

Carolyn accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and was baptized at an early age. She was a devoted servant at Metropolitan Church of God for over 30 years under the leadership of Pastors James E. Massey, Robert O. Dulin Jr. and Kevin W. Earley. Carolyn was active in the church serving on the Board of Trustees as well as serving as the Program Director for the Youth Summer Program for several years. As a result of her leadership of the Summer Youth Program at Metropolitan, she received an honor from the Michigan House of Representatives as Mother of the Year in 1984 for her contributions as the guiding and nurturing force in the lives of her children and throughout the community. She later united with Hartford Memorial Baptist Church under the leadership of Pastor Charles G. Adams

She joined in Holy Matrimony to the late Cornelius Patrick July 20, 1957. To this union, two children were born Tracy and Carla. Carolyn found love again and married Zebedee Rutledge on June 7, 1985. Zebedee preceded Carolyn in death in 1989.

Carolyn was very ambitious and focused about career advancement. She worked for the IRS briefly. Afterwards, she landed at the Michigan Employment Security Commission (MESC) with the State of Michigan. She worked her way up the ranks from a unit typist to department manager. She helped to open the Livonia, MI office, and was in management at the Ionia, MI office. She worked for the State of Michigan until her retirement in 1991.

During her career, Carolyn received many awards of recognition and she was proud of her work. Never one to sit still in retirement, Carolyn remained busy as a consultant for the State of Michigan, a part-time associate at Crowley’s department store, and she concluded her employment at the Detroit Area Agency on Aging. She enjoyed gardening, hosting family gatherings where she served her famous peach cobbler, reading novels by her favorite author, James Patterson, and spending time at Motor City Casino.

Carolyn leaves to cherish her memory her daughters Tracy Holloway (Eric), and Carla Patrick Fagan (Ra Von); her grandson Jalen; sisters Jacqueline J. Mobley Guines of Chattanooga, TN, and Cheryl McWilliams of Clinton Twp, MI; brothers Larry and Kenneth Mobley both of Chattanooga, Aunt, Lina Pearl Sales, of Chattanooga; beloved cousins Jimmy and Alice Marbury of Atlanta, GA; her beloved adopted daughter Shirley Emmons of Detroit, MI, brother-in-law Jesse Pete Rutledge (Mattie), sisters-in-law Lucile Rutledge, and Carolyn Rutledge of Detroit, MI, Irene Rutledge of Southfield, MI, and Geneva Willis (Walter) of Cleveland, OH, and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Carolyn Faye Rutledge, please visit our Heartfelt Sympathies Store.

Order Flowers