Rachel Jolly Caune

Rachel was born in Kings Mountain, North Carolina, on July 7, 1936, to Clarence and Orangel Jolly. She was a beloved and devoted mother, grandmother, sister and friend. Rachel graduated from Kings Mountain High School in 1955, where she played varsity basketball for all four years. She was the only freshman named to the varsity team and excelled as center guard aiding the team to two winning seasons. During Rachel’s senior year, she was named to the All-Tournament, All-Star and All-Conference South Group Teams. Rachel was known for her vivacious spirit and was voted Most Athletic, Most Versatile, Wittiest, and Best All-Around by her classmates.

After high school, Rachel moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, where she met and wed her husband, John in 1959. They came to Charlotte in 1967 to raise their children and see grandchildren born. Rachel made friends to laugh and cry with and inspired everyone who crossed her path to live life with passion and be your best every day. Rachel supported her children with her presence at every swim meet (Shannon Park Swim Team), fundraising event (think Girl Scout cookies or CYAC doughnuts) and team practice (cheerleading, football and baseball). Rachel never just showed up, she liked to lead the line. From 1972-1974, she served as the secretary of the Charlotte Police Junior Drum and Bugle Corps, while her sons were members and accompanied the group on a special July 4th trip to Washington, DC, where the group performed. In 1974, Rachel began many years of service in the Charlotte Youth Athletic Association as Vice President of program sales. During that year, she also started an intermural girls’ softball league and led her team to first place. In 1975, she worked with other women in the Charlotte area to develop a traveling girls’ softball program. Many of the women that she had coached over 40 years ago visited Rachel while she was in Hospice care to remind her that she had been an extraordinary influence in their lives. Rachel was a groundbreaker and in 1976, she became the first female First-Vice President of CYAC. In 1977, she felt honored when she was elected the first female President of this organization that allowed her to provide a safe and loving environment for the children of her community. Rachel was humbled this same year when the CYAC “Den” yearbook was dedicated to her. She continued to volunteer with CYAC as a coach, umpire, referee, or in any area that needed her from 1978 to 1988. In 1989, Rachel became very involved in the VFW Auxiliary and enjoyed feeding and entertaining veterans. VFW Post 9488 sponsored a golf tournament each year in Oak Island, North Carolina, and Rachel’s family participated for over 20 years. This vacation exemplified the bond that Rachel created between her children, grandchildren, their Jolly family and life-long friends. Everyone was welcome and no one wanted to miss hearing mama’s laugh or see her roll her eyes when someone told a tall tale. A highlight of our trip would be Rachel waiting on the deck of the clubhouse when her boys, Chris, Tommy, and Ronnie came in on the 18th hole. She would whistle and holler to let everyone know that her family was on the green. Rachel continued to be active in the VFW by representing them in the American Pool Association. In 1997, the team she captained, “The V-8’s” earned the opportunity to participate in the Division City Tournament in Las Vegas.

Rachel was not only active in her community as a volunteer, but also as a business woman. In the 70’s, she worked as a realtor for Chet Snow Realty, and later as a broker. While working as a broker, it was common for her to help friends and family negotiate for their first house and donate her fee as a gift they could use toward their down payment. In the 80’s, she bought the 19th Hole Grill on the Plaza and hard work equaled fun times for everyone who took a seat at her counter. She fed people from every walk of life and if you didn’t have the money to pay her, no problem. In the 90’s, she started her third and final career working for the Charlotte Mecklenburg School System. She worked as a substitute teacher at Cochrane Middle School and most notably, as the ISS teacher at Garinger High School. You couldn’t go out in public with Rachel without someone yelling “Hey, Ms. Caune”, “Remember me?” Often they told of how she encouraged them to make life changes and that her advice put them on a path to success. Rachel retired from the school system but never stopped providing inspiration to the people of Charlotte, who she loved and called family.

Rachel is survived by her three children, Jean Spicer (Ronnie), Chris (Keri Durkin), and Tom (Suzette); her grandchildren, Camille, Chris, Mike, TJ, Jonathan, Charlie and Ellie; her sister, Doris Kiser (Ken); and several cousins, nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her parents; her brothers, Clarence Jr. and Clinton; and her sister, Pat Boyd. Her former husband, J.Z. “John” Caune also preceded her in death.

Visitation is scheduled from 2:30 pm until 5:00 pm Saturday, July 13, at McEwen Funeral Service, Mint Hill Chapel, with her funeral service to follow at 5:00 pm in the funeral home chapel. The Reverend Eddie Price, a lifelong friend of the family, will lead the celebration of Rachel’s life. Retired Methodist minister and formerly Rachel’s pastor, The Reverend Richard Randolph will preside at her burial in Kings Mountain on Sunday.

In lieu of flowers, her family requests that donations be made to either Carrington Place Rehabilitation and Living Center, 600 Fullwood Lane, Matthews, NC 28105 or to the American Cancer Society.