Carolyn Michael Warlick Lane

Carolyn Michael Warlick Lane, the daughter of Maxwell Whitmer Warlick and Eleanor Bennett Warlick, was born in Flushing, New York on July 10, 1935. She grew up during the Depression in a culturally diverse neighborhood in Queens. Carolyn moved to North Carolina as a teenager. She was a generous, strong woman and advocate for justice, owned her own executive search business, and was an accomplished musician. Raised a Methodist, Carolyn was a strong Christian and loved her church, St Francis UMC, very much. She loved planning and hosting family gatherings at her home, leading and singing in her choirs and community choral groups, and traveling with her husband John, visiting friends all over the world.

After graduating from Broughton High School in Raleigh, Carolyn attended St Mary’s All-Girls School, Manhattan School of Music and later NC State University. As the young wife of an Army officer Carolyn crisscrossed the country supporting John as he went from Post to Post and raised their three boys solo while he served in Southeast Asia. She went on to become Super Mom and a loving Grand and Great-Grandmother. Carolyn knew how to be fierce when she saw injustice, yet was gentle and kind towards others.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Max and Eleanor, her three brothers, Max Jr, Bob and Bill, her son Christopher, and the love of her life, John H Lane Jr. She is survived by her two sons, John and Greg, their wives Melinda and Jamye, six grandchildren: Alicia Bieder, Emily Challis, Andrew Lane, Michael Lane, Adam Lane and Kevin Lane, and twelve great-grandchildren.

Visitation will take place at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home in Cary on Saturday, June 12th, from 5–7 p.m. A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held at St Francis United Methodist Church in Cary on Sunday, June 13th at 2:00 p.m.