Birth date: Aug 17, 1932 Death date: Mar 3, 2021
Carolyn Sylvia Rea Elkins died on March 3, 2021 at LRMC. Born and raised Lakeland FL. enjoyed many years of traveling and lived around the world with preceded in death husband Eugene F. Elkins in the USAF, returning to her beloved Read Obituary
Gram was an amazing, kind hearted and spirited woman. I can remember the first time I met Gram was at Thanksgiving. No words can describe how at home I felt when she gave me a hug. It made me smile from ear to ear and made me feel so warm and welcome. She was amazing cook and all around an amazing human being. It was my first thanksgiving with the entire Elkins family and I cannot thank them enough, especially Gram, for allowing me to be apart of it. From that moment on, I felt like part of the family. I’ll miss her dearly but will always remember the times we spent together, the laughs we shared and the wonderful memories of sitting down at the dinner table to share a delicious meal. She was truly one of a kind and I’ll always remember her as my grandmother. Love you gram, forever and always.
Carolyn was such a delightful lady. Someone you immediately wanted to get to know. Prayers to the family, and expressing my gratitude that she was part of my life. Vicky Pitner
I will always cherish memories of our hugs at First Methodist Church 9:30 service . We shared memories of being married to USAF Husbands. At different times we were stationed in Okinawa during the sixties. My sympathy for her family . Suzanne Sidwell
My Gram was a wonderful and beautiful grandmother and person. She loved her family and showed her love with acts of service. I will forever see her, in my mind, fluttering around like a butterfly during Christmas and Thanksgiving laying out homemade turkey with all of the trimmings, setting out pies that took her days to make, all placed lovingly on decorated tables.
I have a lot in common with my Gram and have been able to see our similarities the older I get. We both love education, reading, being outdoors, working with plants, and saving a penny! When I was a younger woman, in my twenties, I would spend time with Gram by going shopping, we just looked never bought, or having lunch. I recall driving her around in my very sporty Toyota Celica and showing her how I would open my door at toll booths and pick up all of the quarters that had fallen. A month or two went by and it was her turn to drive, We were coming off of the Polk Parkway and all of a sudden I look over and see her bend over, backside in the air, hanging out of her car, getting two quarters that had missed the basket! It was hilarious! The last trip we took together was to Hobby Lobby where she took about ten minutes to decide if she wanted to buy a three pack of terracotta pots. They had a huge price tag of around $5.00. This is just one example of how I know we are basically the same person, by nature.
When I was young, I had the most beautiful bedroom. I was an only child! I had a canopy bed, gorgeous bed set, and the most elaborate multi-layered, lace trimmed, curtains. It was not until I was a teen when I realized my Gram made my curtains! She took plain flat sheets and made curtains the 1990 JC Penny catalog would have been proud to sell! With that, she made me a cat trimmed in the same fabric. I loved and cherished that cat! It was stiff and hard and made to keep a door open, but I treated it like a toy. She had one just like it in her house and it always made me feel loved when I would come over and see that same cat "lived" in both our homes! She was truly a talented woman!
She had so many great qualities from taking care of others, being wise with her assets, being extremely clean and organized, and always wanting to learn. I am so thankful she was my grandmother, my Gram!
I love you very much Gram! Until we see each other again, I will keep finding those quarters and loving our family! Thank you for being an example of how to take care of things and more importantly others!
Gram basically raised me as a child and no words could amount enough to thank her for how much she did for her grand children. She is the strongest woman I know. my favorite memories with her were playing battle field and chess as well as the memories she would share with me of traveling the world in her earlier life. I miss my grandma.
