Uncrowned Community Builders

Carolyn Betty Woods was born in Lynchburg, Virginia on January 12, 1923. She is the daughter of Reverend Doctor Robert Clisson and Nellie Hunter Woods. She was baptized by her father and was a life-long member of the Baptist Church.

In 1943, "Arky", as she was known in college, graduated Magna Cum Laude from Virginia Union University with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her marriage to Robert S. Daughtry, an outstanding student athlete at Virginia Union, lasted over 43 years and produced four children: Robert, Dexter, LaNelle and Lauren.

Throughout her life Mrs. Daughtry excelled in every arena. First as student, later as educator, administrator, scholar, and in the personal sphere, mother and friend. She received the Master of Social Work degree, Valedictorian, from the State University of New York at Buffalo, where she later served for nine years as Assistant Professor. She authored and co-authored a number of publications. Her acknowledged stature in the field of Social Services led to numerous consultative and advisory positions.

As administrator of the first rank, Mrs. Daughtry was the first woman to serve as First Deputy Commissioner of Social Services for Buffalo and Erie County, New York and directed a staff of 2,100 with a $215 million budget. After retirement from this position, Mrs. Daughtry and her husband relocated to Richmond, Virginia. In 1980, Mrs. Daughtry became Dean of Students and later served as Provost at Virginia Union University until her retirement due to illness. Virginia Union awarded her the degree of Doctor of Humane Letters in 1989.

Carolyn Daughtry's protean professional accomplishments are only descriptive of a fraction of her talents and humanity. Hundreds of long-term relationships, some spanning a lifetime, testify to her capacity for friendship. Her intellect was reflected in her lifelong passion for Bridge, and she achieved the rank of Life Master diamond pin. Carolyn traveled to regional and national tournaments and, at several points, taught Bridge classes. Bridge was the medium around which she built another series of friendships, which were also very meaningful to her.

Mrs. Carolyn Woods Daughtry died on Monday, August 14, 2000. Her funeral services were held at Virginia Union University. Her family stated that it was appropriate for the services to be held at Union because it was an integral part of her life. She met her future husband there. Union was a touchstone for her values and she was proud to complete her professional career by taking on the challenge of leadership at the school that nurtured her.