Carolyn E. Goria

Carolyn Edwards Goria, of McLeansville, NC, was born June 28, 1939, in Roanoke, VA, and died peacefully, with the immense blessing of a happy death, on All Saints’ Day, November 1, 2024, at the age of 85.

Carolyn had been surrounded the previous three days by family and friends, from near and far, and then as she passed, she had her beloved younger sister Pam, her ever-present and devoted caretaker Patricia, and her daughter by her side as she left this world by taking two deep breaths and gently passing.

Carolyn loved quite a few things. She loved her first dog, Kabaya, an Afghan Hound. She loved her first full-time job at Smartwear-Irving Saks, the most exclusive dress shop in Roanoke, where she worked from 18-25 years old, and had first-hand training in business from her lifelong mentor Mr. Saks. Throughout her life, Carolyn loved to tap into her creative side by becoming a self-taught photographer, painter, crafter, and excellent cook, mastering the art of Lebanese fare.

Carolyn loved Elvis, her brothers and sister, her two children, her four grandchildren, her three great grandchildren, her extended family, and most of all, Carolyn loved Pete, her husband of 58 years. Once they were married, one did not often hear Pete mentioned without hearing Carolyn as well.

Carolyn began working in high school, and her first job was cleaning a neighbor’s front porch once a week. Carolyn then worked at Kress, a five and dime, and at Leggett, a clothes shop. Then, for 7 years, until she was married, she worked for and learned from Mr. Saks. In that short span, Carolyn went from earning $0.25 per week to $125 per week. With a humble beginning, Carolyn was determined to provide for herself and her family at a young age. Together with Pete, they toiled, sacrificed, saved, invested, built, and worked tirelessly seven days a week, for decades.

Carolyn met the love of her life Pete on a blind date. After dating for five years, they were married in 1965, and shortly thereafter had a daughter and then a son. In 1968, they and a Partner founded Valley Vault Company, a concrete products and burial vault company, in Roanoke, VA. In 1970, the husband and wife team moved to Greensboro, NC, to purchase the Radig Vault Company to produce Doric and Perma brand vaults. They formed Goria Enterprises in 1973, which used Fleming machinery to produce patio stones and masonry block. In 1977, Pete and Carolyn purchased Arnold Vault Co. and grew the business to become the 5th largest Wilbert burial vault brand dealer in the US and Canada. Goria Enterprises used German-made Masa equipment to manufacture concrete products sold in nine states. With a fleet of tractor trailers, Goria was a major supplier to K-Mart, Woolworth, Hechinger’s, Lowe’s Home Stores, and independent garden centers. In 1989, Pete & Carolyn sold the vault and patio stones business to Oldcastle, an Irish firm.

In 1990, Pete, along with Carolyn doing the administrative work, began their next career in commercial real estate development. Pete & Carolyn, along with a Partner, purchased land bordering I-85 and I-40 creating what is now McConnell Center Industrial Park. In the early 2000s, Pete & Carolyn, along with yet another Partner, bought, renovated, and eventually leased the Burlington Industries building in Stokesdale, NC. Over the years, Pete & Carolyn bought, developed, and leased land to a variety of excellent tenants and corporations. In 2019, after the development, construction, and leasing of four more industrial buildings, in conjunction with Windsor Construction and multiple Partners, McConnell Center Industrial Park, with a total of more than 1 million square feet of rentable space, was sold to New York Life. This was the crowning achievement in business for Pete & Carolyn. Together they worked, saved, planned, and worked some more to achieve their goals.

Carolyn survived her husband Pete, as he passed in January 2023. We now see the end of an era with Carolyn’s and Pete’s passing. These were true entrepreneurs and Americans who gave 100% of themselves to achieve their dreams of creating a family and growing business after business, and as a woman in business, Carolyn was a ground-breaker and ahead of her time.

Carolyn is survived by her brothers and sister, a daughter and a son, their spouses, four grandchildren, two spouses of the grandchildren, three great grandchildren, and a loving caretaker. In addition, many beloved friends, extended family, business partners, and associates will miss Carolyn’s care, love, concern, generosity, cooking, and giving hand. With Carolyn always standing by her man, she and Pete lived a big, bold life, loving their Catholic Church, family, friends, good food and music, Smith Mountain Lake, and a good day’s work.

During the solemn season of Lent, the Catholic Church does not display flowers on the altar. Friends are invited to make a donation in Carolyn’s memory to St. Joseph College Seminary of the Charlotte Diocese at http://www.stjcs.org/donation/, Room at the Inn (pro-life pregnancy center in Greensboro) at www.roominn.org, or the recently-formed “Pete & Carolyn Goria Endowed Scholarship Fund,” at Guilford Technical Community College, established to ensure students have access to programs related to Supply Chain Logistics and Management, Warehouse Support, Distribution, and Transportation to support the continued growth of business in the region. Please add the fund name to your donation. http://www.gtcc.edu/foundation

The immediate family will receive friends, colleagues, and extended family on Thursday, March 20, from 5pm-6:30pm, at Hanes Lineberry Funeral Home, 515 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC. On Friday, March 21, at 11am, a Funeral Mass will be held at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 2210 North Elm Street, Greensboro, NC, with lunch to follow and all are invited.