Carolyn Ballard Tilson

died on Wednesday, De-cember 5, 2012 leaving an enduring mark as a devoted wife, mother, friend and neighbor. She will be re-membered for being kind and gracious, dedicated to her family, church and community. Her focus was constantly on the needs of others and her goal always was to serve.

Carolyn was born on Sep-tember 27, 1928 in Lancas-ter, South Carolina to Willis and Mattie Ballard. After serving as Miss South Caro-lina and graduating from Limestone College, she met and married the newly or-dained Reverend Martin R. Tilson from Savannah, Georgia. Martin and Caro-lyn began 53 wonderful years of married life in Anderson, South Carolina and moved to Charlotte, North Carolina in 1956 when Martin was called to be rector of St. John's Epis-copal Church. Carolyn and Martin started St. John's with a few members and a borrowed building. Through their leadership, St. John's grew to several build-ings and became one of the largest parishes in North Carolina. After enjoying eleven years in Charlotte, Carolyn and Martin were called to Birmingham in 1967 where Martin would serve for twenty years as rec-tor of Saint Luke's Episcopal Church in Mountain Brook, with Carolyn as his constant help and support. She was the consummate preacher's wife, participating in every facet of the parish, and al-ways met people with a ready smile and welcoming heart.

Carolyn devoted much of her adult life to raising four children and to supporting her husband in his parish ministries. At St. Luke's, she enjoyed the altar guild and the church choir for many years, gracing many services and weddings with her beautiful singing voice. Carolyn was an excellent hostess, grower of roses, and baker of pound cakes and famous yeast rolls. She was at all times kind, gracious, and a generous southern lady and her love was evi-dent to all who knew her. She will be missed by many treasured, life-long friends in Charlotte as well as by her extended family and friends at St. Luke's.

Carolyn was deeply loved by her four children: Martin R. Tilson, Jr. (Marion) of At-lanta; Susan Tilson Silverstein (David) of Bir-mingham; Anne Tilson Varner (Steve) of Birming-ham; and Christine Tilson Alford (Lee) of Peachtree City, Georgia. "Meme" was adored by her nine grand-children: Kacy, Lauren, Molly, David, and Sarah Silverstein , Margaret and Martin Tilson, III, and Trace and Caroline Alford. Her gentle spirit will also be missed by her sister, Eliza-beth Mobley, and brother, Willis Ballard, both of Lan-caster, South Carolina.

The family wishes to thank the caregivers that provided love and care to Carolyn over these past few years, es-pecially Judy Hooper, Stacey Dycus, Annie Nichols, Glinda Underwood & Jackie Howard. We also express our gratitude to the won-derful doctors who assisted Carolyn throughout her ill-ness, including Dr. Roxanne Travelute, Dr. Cleveland Kinney, and Dr. William Hayes.

The family requests in lieu of flowers contributions be made to St. Luke's Episcopal Church at 3736 Montrose Rd, Birmingham, Al 35213. Alzheimer's of Central Ala-bama at 300 Office Park Dr. Suite 225, Birmingham, AL , 35223, or The University of the South, where a scholar-ship in Carolyn and Martin's name has been estab-lished to fund parish priests at St. Luke's Seminary, University of South Office of Advancement c/o Paula Whisenant 735 University Ave, Sewanee, TN 37383