In the early morning hours of December 26, 2016, Carolyn Lavern Lord, of The Villages, FL, passed away peacefully after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Carolyn was comforted by family on Christmas day and was being attended by familiar staff members at Avanté of Leesburg Skilled Nursing Center at the time of her death. She was 77 years old. Carolyn was born in Roswell, Georgia on January 30th, 1939. She was the eldest child of Joel H. and Velma (Allen) Smith. She grew up in Roswell and graduated from Milton High School in 1957. Later that year she married her loving husband of 59 years, Henry “Gene” Lord. They lived in The Villages for the last 20 years. She was a loving and dedicated wife and mother. She had two sons, three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Carolyn worked as an Administrative Assistant for several companies during her career and moved to the Villages when she worked for The Villages Sales Team in 1996. She was a Christian and a member of Immanuel Baptist Church. She loved gospel music. Carolyn had a beautiful voice and was a member of her church choir and also sang with The Belle Chords in The Villages. She also loved gardening, cooking and was very talented in crochet and crafting. She was a sports fan and loved to golf. Carolyn was preceded in death by her brother, Kenneth Smith of Gainesville, GA. She is survived her loving husband and caretaker, Gene Lord of The Villages, FL; sons Mitchell Lord of Clearwater, FL and Andrew Lord of Mount Dora, FL; grandson Keith Lord of Asheville, NC; granddaughters Ashley Lord and Jennifer Lord Crabtree of Bristol, VA; sister Linda Smith of The Villages, FL; brother Allen (and Sandra) Smith of Ball Ground, GA. She is also survived by many nieces, nephews and their families.
A Celebration of Life will be held Monday, January 2, 2017 at 11 a.m. at Beyers Funeral Home in Lady Lake, Pastor Mike Dameron Officiating.
