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Carolyn Lavern Malone Townes
December 8, 1948 - February 21, 2018
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Carolyn Lavern Malone Townes, 69, of Poplar Bluff, Missouri, was born in 1948 in Earle, Arkansas. Family and friends often called her “Vern”. She was the youngest daughter and fourth youngest of 11 surviving children born to Robert Malone, Sr. and Lueida Taylor Malone. Growing up her family was poor and had to farm and pick cotton to scratch out a living. In 1967, Carolyn graduated from Delta C7 High School in Deering, Missouri in the upper 10 percent of her class.
In March 1970, Carolyn married Samuel Townes who was her childhood sweetheart. In 1972, Carolyn gave birth to a son. Around 1976, she and her family settled in St. Louis, Missouri. In the mid-1980s, she joined Northern Missionary Baptist Church where she sang in the church choir for a while. In 1984, Carolyn completed the data entry program at Watterson Business College. She earned her associate of art in applied science from Saint Louis Community College in 1989 and became a registered nurse. For a time she was the medical coordinator at Annie Malone Children’s Home, one of the nation’s oldest children’s services agencies. In 1993, Carolyn and Samuel divorced after more than 20 years of marriage.
When Carolyn was a very young child her mother passed away. Carolyn struggled with depression throughout her life. In her later years, she suffered from mental illness and other health problems.
Carolyn passed away on February 21, 2018 in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center with her son and daughter-in-law at her bedside. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, three of her brothers (Willie Malone, David Malone, and Robert Malone Jr.) and three of her sisters (Ophelia Miller, Louise Owens, and Lou Ethel Starks).
Carolyn is survived by her only child (Malcolm Shabazz Townes), daughter-in-law (Tina R. Townes), only grandchild (Kaliice N. Walker), siblings from her father’s marriage to Lueida Taylor (Mattie Sheard, Calvin Malone, Melvin Malone, Larry Malone), siblings and step-siblings from her father’s subsequent marriage to Betty Ann Farmer (Robert Malone II, Eva Mae Taylor, Darnell Malone, Darrell Malone, Josie Lemons, Bryant Malone, Eric Farmer, Elvis Farmer, Benjamin Farmer, Willie Dale Farmer, Jimmy Farmer, Ruby Hopkins), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
A memorial service was held at Carter Funeral Home in Caruthersville, Missouri on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery in Hayti, Missouri. Immediately following the burial, a repass was held at Israel of God Church in Hayti, Missouri.
In March 1970, Carolyn married Samuel Townes who was her childhood sweetheart. In 1972, Carolyn gave birth to a son. Around 1976, she and her family settled in St. Louis, Missouri. In the mid-1980s, she joined Northern Missionary Baptist Church where she sang in the church choir for a while. In 1984, Carolyn completed the data entry program at Watterson Business College. She earned her associate of art in applied science from Saint Louis Community College in 1989 and became a registered nurse. For a time she was the medical coordinator at Annie Malone Children’s Home, one of the nation’s oldest children’s services agencies. In 1993, Carolyn and Samuel divorced after more than 20 years of marriage.
When Carolyn was a very young child her mother passed away. Carolyn struggled with depression throughout her life. In her later years, she suffered from mental illness and other health problems.
Carolyn passed away on February 21, 2018 in Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center with her son and daughter-in-law at her bedside. She was preceded in death by her mother, father, three of her brothers (Willie Malone, David Malone, and Robert Malone Jr.) and three of her sisters (Ophelia Miller, Louise Owens, and Lou Ethel Starks).
Carolyn is survived by her only child (Malcolm Shabazz Townes), daughter-in-law (Tina R. Townes), only grandchild (Kaliice N. Walker), siblings from her father’s marriage to Lueida Taylor (Mattie Sheard, Calvin Malone, Melvin Malone, Larry Malone), siblings and step-siblings from her father’s subsequent marriage to Betty Ann Farmer (Robert Malone II, Eva Mae Taylor, Darnell Malone, Darrell Malone, Josie Lemons, Bryant Malone, Eric Farmer, Elvis Farmer, Benjamin Farmer, Willie Dale Farmer, Jimmy Farmer, Ruby Hopkins), as well as numerous nieces, nephews, and other relatives.
A memorial service was held at Carter Funeral Home in Caruthersville, Missouri on Saturday, March 3, 2018. Burial followed in Evergreen Cemetery in Hayti, Missouri. Immediately following the burial, a repass was held at Israel of God Church in Hayti, Missouri.
