Carolyn Elaine Coley Waddell

Elaine Coley Waddell passed away on November 13, 2025, at Trellis Supportive Care Center in Winston-Salem, NC. Elaine was born in Charlotte, NC, on March 14, 1945, and was raised in Gastonia, graduating from Frank L. Ashley High School in 1963. Elaine was the daughter of the late Howard Coley and Irene McDonald Coley. After high school, she attended Winthrop University for two years before transferring to the School of Medical Record Administration at NC Baptist Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. After graduation, Elaine took a job with Roanoke Memorial Hospital (Carilion Clinic) in Roanoke, VA, and soon became the Director of the Medical Records Department. She remained in that position for several years until shortly before her daughter’s birth in 1974.

Elaine became a full-time mom to her daughter, Ashley, and son, Tripp, but eventually returned to Roanoke College in Salem, VA, near their home. In 1985, she earned her degree in History with a concentration in Medieval History, a subject she continued to enjoy reading about throughout her life. Elaine became an active volunteer serving as a baseball, softball, and cheerleading coach for her children’s teams. She also served as President of the Board of the Roanoke Area March of Dimes, chairing the Gourmet Gala and traveling throughout Southwest Virginia to help raise funds for the organization. Elaine participated in other volunteer fundraising activities in the community and at her children’s school, North Cross, in Roanoke, where she also served as a substitute teacher and interim Admissions Director.

In 1990, a broker from a local real estate company approached Elaine about organizing and directing a Relocation Department for their growing company. In the real estate community, Elaine found her purpose. She studied to earn the designation as a Certified Relocation Professional and also became a licensed Realtor. Elaine was elected to the Board of Directors of the Roanoke Valley Association of Realtors after serving on a number of association committees, and she served as its President in 1999. She served on the Relocation Council and the Communications Committee of the Virginia Association of Realtors, as Virginia RPAC Chairman, and was elected to VAR’s Policy Board for two terms. She also served on the Communications and Advertising Committees of the National Association of Realtors. Elaine retired from real estate in 2001, and in 2003, she and her husband, Ken, moved to Pawleys Island, SC.

Volunteer work was in Elaine’s blood, and she was chosen by the Heritage Plantation HOA Board to serve on the Architectural Review Committee. She was asked to serve on the Board of the Friends of the Kaminski House, a historic home in Georgetown, SC, and she quickly became the Chairman. She led the team as the Friends took over the management of the Kaminski House from the City of Georgetown and worked tirelessly throughout the transition until a new director was hired. She continued as Chairman until she and Ken moved to St. James in Southport, NC, in 2015. After living in St. James for a short time, Elaine was selected to serve on the Architectural Control Committee. She served for two 3-year terms and as Chairman for five of those years. She was selected as St. James Volunteer of the Year in 2021.

Elaine and Ken shared a love of travel, reading, history, golf, and their adopted cats. They traveled extensively throughout Europe, the Caribbean, Canada, the US, and to Tahiti. Elaine maintained travel journals for all the trips and created photo albums upon their return home. Elaine is survived by the love of her life, Kenneth Lee Waddell, her daughter, Ashley Bell (Patrick Mulhern), and son, Houston L. Bell, III (Tripp), as well as her beloved grandchildren, Pope Kennedy and Wren Kennedy, and step-grandson Hatch Mulhern. She is also survived by her brother Michael (Lisa) and her bonus family including stepdaughters Teresa Jones (Richard), Patsy Miller (Jimmy), Beth Waddell, and Nancy Jones (Robbie), along with goddaughter Melanie Champion. Also surviving are step-grandchildren Kyle Jones, Trent Jones, Chris Miller, Lindsey Miller, Drew Doss, Derek Doss, and Paige Doss, along with several nephews and nieces, cousins, and many cherished friends.

Elaine loved animals, especially cats and birds. She enjoyed the beach, golfing with friends, seeing the world, taking photographs, having a purpose, and laughter. She also wished that she had done more to “save the world,” but hoped that her offer of friendship and love to those she met and to her family would serve instead. Most of all she loved Ken, her family and her bonus family. While Elaine loved flowers and hopes you will plant one in your yard in her memory, she would instead appreciate donations in her name to your local no-kill animal shelter.

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2025, at 12:00pm at Vogler Funeral Home at Forsyth Memorial Park in Winston-Salem.