Mrs. Caroline Cheney Carlton

Caroline Cheney Carlton, age 102, was born in Carrollton, Georgia on September 20, 1907 to James Gordon Cheney and Carrie Turner Cheney. She passed away July 29 at Woodland Ridge in Smyrna, GA. She had struggled bravely with Alzheimer’s for more than seven years, but remained gracious, kind, and cheerful.

Mrs. Carlton was a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher in Winston-Salem, NC for more than forty years. She graduated from high school at age sixteen and entered Georgia State College for women in Milledgeville. She received a degree in elementary education with a specialty in recreation in 1929, and was named “Miss GSCW”, the highest honor given to a graduating senior.

Moving to Winston-Salem, she began a teaching career at Central School where she taught for ten years. She married Romulus Lancaster Carlton of Winston-Salem in 1933 and they had one daughter, Caroline Dearing Carlton. She took time away from teaching to raise her daughter and then returned to Ardmore School, followed by Latham Elementary School where she taught from 1957 until her retirement in 1973. Rom Carlton predeceased his wife at age eighty three in 1991. they lived for many years at 1644 Reynolda Road where they both loved gardening, particularly growing roses. She moved to Arbor Acres Methodist Home in 1996 and lived there until moving to Atlanta in 2004.

Mrs. Carlton was a long time member of the First Baptist Church, the Hope ‘n Hoe Garden Club, and the Winston-Salem Women’s Club. She maintained her home after her husband’s death, and enjoyed an active life walking, playing bridge, participating in book clubs and attending the local theatre. Underlying her kind and gentle manner was a strong intellect and charismatic personality. She had many devoted friends and colleagues and was a wonderful supportive mother, a delightful and loving grandmother.

She is survived by her daughter Caroline Carlton John of Atlanta and grandchildren Matthew Ian John, an attorney in Memphis, TN and Caroline E. John, principal of DC Scholars Stanton Elementary School in Washington, DC.

A memorial funeral service, celebrating the life of Caroline Cheney Carlton, will be held on Saturday (August 7th) at 1:00 PM at the Vogler Funeral Home Reynolda Chapel, 2951 Reynolda Road, Winston-Salem, NC 27106 (336-722-6106). Her cousin the Rev. William Logan will officiate. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 11:30 until service time at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Forsyth Memorial Park. Memorials in Caroline Carlton’s name may be made to Teach for America or your local Alzheimer’s Association.

Funeral arrangements are under the care of the Vogler Funeral Home, a Dignity Memorial Provider. Online condolences to frankvoglerandsons.com.