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The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Jean McClendon, 69, peacefully entered into the Presence of Her Savior on Friday, July 1, 2022, at Transitions Life Care Center in Raleigh, N.C., following a lengthy battle with cancer.

Born June 6 to Denman and Pansy McClendon of Mt. Hermon, Carolyn attended Mt. Hermon High, Southeastern La. University and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, where she received her Doctorate in Education.

Carolyn leaves to cherish her memory: her mother, Pansy Bateman McClendon of Mt. Hermon; her twin sister, Marilyn McClendon of Westbrook, Maine; and a host of extended family and friends across the nation.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her dad, Denman McClendon, and younger sister, Kathryn McClendon Smith, as well as by grandparents, extended family and special friends.

Carolyn’s early commitment to Christ was the heartbeat of her life. She not only spoke about Jesus, but was passionate to “love as Jesus loved” with those she met/touched in those moments.

She was ordained to the Gospel Ministry in 2005 by Millbrook Baptist Church in Raleigh.

Some of the many opportunities where Carolyn’s love for Jesus was lived out included serving as a missionary at the Baptist Friendship House in New Orleans, with the Home Mission Board (now North American Mission Board); Catholic Charities, Aids Alliance, Welcome House, Jobs for Life, fostering 40 infants, Millbrook Baptist Church, and so many other areas of “loving people” like Jesus, across denominational, demographics, cultural and life choices.

Carolyn set the example of what it was like to love people as they were, created by the Father, by “enlisting volunteers” to serve with her in various areas of need — from her church families and/or students from her classes while on the faculty of New Orleans Seminary, Southeastern Seminary and Campbell Divinity School. It was not uncommon for her to challenge those in the “comfort” of Jesus, with the question “what would Jesus do?” and then reply “you can’t do it all, so do what you can.”

A Celebration of Life service will be held Sunday, July 10, at Millbrook Baptist Church at 2 p.m. The family will receive guests from noon until 1:30 p.m., followed by the 2 p.m. Celebration. Reception will follow.

The link for the live stream service is https://youtu.be/ezGlNU01vJw.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to any of the following:

• Transitions LifeCare, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC 27607 or online at www.transitionslifecare.org/donate.
• Millbrook Baptist Church, 1519 E Millbrook Rd, Raleigh, NC 27609, Labrynth/Memorial Gardens.
• Baptist Churches of New England Foundation Collegiate Ministry, 87 Lincoln St., Northborough, MA 01532 or online at bit.ly/McClendonMemorial.

Family and friends may join a Celebration of Life service for Carolyn in Louisiana at the Crain Funeral Home, located at 1109 Bene St, in Franklinton, on Saturday, July 16, at 2 p.m. Family will receive friends from noon until 1:30 p.m.