Carolyn West

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Services for Carolyn Ann Mosby West, 56, of Natchez, who died Thursday, April 19, 2007, will be at noon Thursday at Christian Hope Baptist Church with the Rev. K. E. Stanton officiating.

Burial will follow at Pine Hill Memorial Park under the direction of George F. West Funeral Home.

Visitation will be from 4 to 6 p.m. and from 7 to 10 p.m. today at the church. Visitation will also be from 8:30 a.m. until service time Thursday at the church.

Mrs. West was born May 30, 1950, in Washington the daughter of Charles and Thelma Mosby. She accepted Christ in 1962 and joined the Mount Nebo Baptist Church under the leadership of the Rev. T. C. Johnson. Early in her marriage, she joined King Solomon Baptist Church. Later she joined Rose Hill Baptist Church where she served as an usher.

Carolyn was one of the first African-Americans to graduate from Natchez High School in 1968, and she went on to graduate from Southern University in 1971. Carolyn received her Master of Science Degree in Education from Alcorn State University in 1994. She worked as an elementary school teacher for more than 34 years. Prior to her passing, she was employed as a gifted teacher at Morgantown Elementary School.

An avid athlete and sports fan, Carolyn played basketball and softball. She was an outstanding bowler; she loved the Southern University Jaguars, the Los Angeles Lakers and Kobe Bryant.

Carolyn was a chartered member of the Natchez Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., a member of the National Education Association, the Mississippi Education Association, and a life-time supporter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

She dedicated her life to working with children and working with her husband in civic and political activities in Adams County.

A Christian family woman and a dedicated wife and mother, she leaves to cherish her memories her devoted husband, Phillip C. West; her sons, Attorney Kareem West and wife, Joanne, of Augusta, Ga. and Samuel West and companion, Sandra, of Jackson; stepdaughters, Dana Brown of Atlanta, Ga. and Danessa McCullen of Natchez; a special granddaughter, Nyah-McKenzie West of Augusta; a special step-granddaughter, Sidney McCullen; a brother, Charles Mosby and wife, Carol, and nephews, Elgin, Elliot and Anthony Mosby, all of Los Angeles, Calif.; aunt, Lorraine Minor of Natchez; sisters-in-law, Laura Bowman of Chicago, Ill., Katie West and Patricia West, both of Natchez, Deloris Rollins of San Antonio, Texas, Brenda Scott of Houston, Texas, Lolita Mason and Joyce Lee, both of Atlanta, Ga.; brothers-in-law, A.J. West, Plez West, Willie Johnson and wife, Linda, and Bob Scroggins, all of Natchez, Esaw West and wife, Gladys, and Charles West and wife, Lillian, all of Chicago; special godchildren, Regina Jones Washington and Leslie James Jones.

Special family friends include Robert Johnson, Theodore Johnson and Freddie Simpson.

Carolyn’s best friends include Aradia Sims, Claristeen Beard, Shirley Sashfras, and Janice Davis.

She leaves a number of additional relatives and friends to treasure her memories.

Pallbearers will be Robert Johnson, Rudolph Minor, Freddie Simpson, Theodore Johnson, Bruce Johnson, Fred Fuller, Robin Harris, Tom Scott, Eric Smith, and Steve Davis.