Carolyn Faison Brittle was born at home with her loving family around her in Richmond, Virginia on March 29, 1938. Early on the morning of February 15, 2024, she departed this life from home with her loving husband, daughter, and son at her side. In between her arrival into this life and her departure from it, Carolyn exemplified a faithful life well-lived.
Carolyn was the third of four children and only daughter born to Gilbert Cephas Brittle and Catherine Barrett Brittle. When Carolyn was five years old, the family moved from Richmond to Dendron, Virginia. During the family’s year-long residency there, two neighbors gave Carolyn sewing lessons, which sparked a life-long joy of sewing. Her skill increased as Carolyn grew, and by her teen years, Carolyn could see a dress in a store and replicate it at home without a pattern.
Not long after Carolyn turned six years old, the Brittle family of six (including brothers Gilbert, Earl, and Charles) moved to the farm owned by her maternal grandparents, George and Carrie Barrett, located just outside of Wakefield, Virginia, to care for them and to help them farm. The farm is where Carolyn would put down roots and the place that she would think of as home for the rest of her life.
Carolyn played basketball in high school and began dating a young Navy veteran and local farmer named Nelson Boykin. After high school Carolyn studied Home Economics at Longwood College with the plan to become a home economics teacher. However, college opened her eyes to new possibilities, and she subsequently became interested in bookkeeping.
Carolyn and Nelson were married on May 16, 1959, and began a love story that would last for almost 65 years. In the early years of their marriage, Carolyn worked at the Talley Neon Company in Richmond. The couple settled in western Henrico County, just outside of Richmond. While Nelson was away working as a fire fighter and part-time grocery clerk, Carolyn worked to make a comfortable home for him and their baby daughter, Kimberly Lynn, who was born in 1963. Nelson’s mother, Fannie, eventually came to live with the young family after her husband passed away, and Carolyn was a caregiver for her as well. In 1971, baby Kevin Page arrived and brought with him great joy and new challenges.
Since childhood, home, family, and her faith in Jesus Christ were at the center of Carolyn’s life. She loved her Lord and her church family at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, where she served the Lord and others in many ways for more than 60 years.
Once Kim and Kevin were in school, Carolyn began to work part-year at various tax services. She excelled at preparing taxes and eventually opened her own business, which she later sold to W. S. Logan, where she would work until her retirement.
Carolyn joyfully welcomed new members to the family when Kim married Paul Eskridge in 1986 and when Kevin married Kim O’Neal in 2000, and her joy was complete when grandchildren arrived: Caryne, Cole, and Kyle Eskridge and Ashley and Ava Boykin.
Carolyn battled cancer for 22 years; breast, followed by multiple myeloma and ultimately pancreatic. Throughout that time, Carolyn’s faith and resolve grew even stronger, and she found ways to flourish and to help others who were also suffering with cancer. She led support groups and mentored other patients throughout their cancer journeys.
When Carolyn left her earthly home, she went to a place where there is no cancer, no chemo, and no strokes, only complete healing and joy in the One who loves her perfectly. She is finally at her truest home.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” –John 14:1 – 3
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11 AM at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Rd., Glen Allen, VA 23059, with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11 AM in the Wakefield Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 10 to 10:45 AM at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Wakefield Chapel, 11414 General Mahone Hwy, Wakefield, VA 23888.
In lieu of flowers, Carolyn’s family requests that donations in her memory be made to either of the following organizations:
Mount Vernon Baptist Church, for online contributions (please scroll down below the obituary to the memorial contributions tab where the website link is located) or by mail: make checks payable to: “Mount Vernon Baptist Church” and mail to, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059.
Sarah Cannon Fund (American Cancer Society), online only (please scroll down below the obituary to the memorial contributions tab where the website link is located) and select first option, “I want to dedicate my donation”, select ‘Memory’ and then add her name.
Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Carolyn Brittle Boykin hosted by RW Baker & Company Funeral Home and Crematory.
Carolyn Faison Brittle was born at home with her loving family around her in Richmond, Virginia on March 29, 1938. Early on the morning of February 15, 2024, she departed this life from home with her loving husband, daughter, and son at her side. In between her arrival into this life and her departure from it, Carolyn exemplified a faithful life well-lived.
Carolyn was the third of four children and only daughter born to Gilbert Cephas Brittle and Catherine Barrett Brittle. When Carolyn was five years old, the family moved from Richmond to Dendron, Virginia. During the family’s year-long residency there, two neighbors gave Carolyn sewing lessons, which sparked a life-long joy of sewing. Her skill increased as Carolyn grew, and by her teen years, Carolyn could see a dress in a store and replicate it at home without a pattern.
Not long after Carolyn turned six years old, the Brittle family of six (including brothers Gilbert, Earl, and Charles) moved to the farm owned by her maternal grandparents, George and Carrie Barrett, located just outside of Wakefield, Virginia, to care for them and to help them farm. The farm is where Carolyn would put down roots and the place that she would think of as home for the rest of her life.
Carolyn played basketball in high school and began dating a young Navy veteran and local farmer named Nelson Boykin. After high school Carolyn studied Home Economics at Longwood College with the plan to become a home economics teacher. However, college opened her eyes to new possibilities, and she subsequently became interested in bookkeeping.
Carolyn and Nelson were married on May 16, 1959, and began a love story that would last for almost 65 years. In the early years of their marriage, Carolyn worked at the Talley Neon Company in Richmond. The couple settled in western Henrico County, just outside of Richmond. While Nelson was away working as a fire fighter and part-time grocery clerk, Carolyn worked to make a comfortable home for him and their baby daughter, Kimberly Lynn, who was born in 1963. Nelson’s mother, Fannie, eventually came to live with the young family after her husband passed away, and Carolyn was a caregiver for her as well. In 1971, baby Kevin Page arrived and brought with him great joy and new challenges.
Since childhood, home, family, and her faith in Jesus Christ were at the center of Carolyn’s life. She loved her Lord and her church family at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, where she served the Lord and others in many ways for more than 60 years.
Once Kim and Kevin were in school, Carolyn began to work part-year at various tax services. She excelled at preparing taxes and eventually opened her own business, which she later sold to W. S. Logan, where she would work until her retirement.
Carolyn joyfully welcomed new members to the family when Kim married Paul Eskridge in 1986 and when Kevin married Kim O’Neal in 2000, and her joy was complete when grandchildren arrived: Caryne, Cole, and Kyle Eskridge and Ashley and Ava Boykin.
Carolyn battled cancer for 22 years; breast, followed by multiple myeloma and ultimately pancreatic. Throughout that time, Carolyn’s faith and resolve grew even stronger, and she found ways to flourish and to help others who were also suffering with cancer. She led support groups and mentored other patients throughout their cancer journeys.
When Carolyn left her earthly home, she went to a place where there is no cancer, no chemo, and no strokes, only complete healing and joy in the One who loves her perfectly. She is finally at her truest home.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” –John 14:1 – 3
A memorial service will be held on Friday, February 23, 2024 at 11 AM at Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Rd., Glen Allen, VA 23059, with a reception to follow in the church fellowship hall. A graveside service will be conducted on Saturday, February 24, 2024 at 11 AM in the Wakefield Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Saturday, February 24, 2024 from 10 to 10:45 AM at R.W. Baker & Co. Funeral Home, Wakefield Chapel, 11414 General Mahone Hwy, Wakefield, VA 23888.
In lieu of flowers, Carolyn’s family requests that donations in her memory be made to either of the following organizations:
Mount Vernon Baptist Church, for online contributions (please scroll down below the obituary to the memorial contributions tab where the website link is located) or by mail: make checks payable to: “Mount Vernon Baptist Church” and mail to, Mount Vernon Baptist Church, 11220 Nuckols Road, Glen Allen, VA 23059.
Sarah Cannon Fund (American Cancer Society), online only (please scroll down below the obituary to the memorial contributions tab where the website link is located) and select first option, “I want to dedicate my donation”, select ‘Memory’ and then add her name.
Condolences may be registered at RWBakerFH.com.
To share a memory or send a condolence gift, please visit the Official Obituary of Carolyn Brittle Boykin hosted by RW Baker & Company Funeral Home and Crematory.
