Carol Cooper Folsom

Carol Cooper Folsom, age 68, departed this life on October 19, 2018, at her home in Brooks County following a short illness. Carol was born on November 4, 1949, in Brooks County to the late James Ellis and Mabel West Cooper. She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Catherine Adams who taught at Lowndes High School and Valdosta State University, and one brother Charles Cooper who was the girls basketball coach at Brooks County High, then Lowndes County High and then Valdosta State University. Carol received her education in Brooks County schools, finishing at Brooks County High School. In 1967 she enrolled at Valdosta State College where she majored in Piano Performance. She met Billy when they were both seventeen years old, and married him on August 21, 1970, in Pauline Baptist Church just a half mile from where she grew up. The service was performed by Billy’s dad, Reverend S. G. Folsom, Sr. Carol was the pianist there. She and Billy drove to Washington D.C. for their honeymoon. It was a fun ride in a 1964 Volkswagen with no radio or air conditioning. Upon their return Billy and Carol resumed their college studies and Carol taught piano at several elementary schools in Brooks County. Twelve months later, a child, Ian William Folsom, was born on September 9, 1971. When Carol and Billy finished college, he and Carol and Ian moved to Atlanta where Billy worked at the Georgia Power Company for sixteen years. While there, a second son, Alan Cooper Folsom, was born on May 18, 1974. Carol continued to teach piano and had both children and adults under her tutelage. Teaching was Carol’s passion and she had many students. At the same time, Carol was the pianist and organist at the Second Baptist Church of Forest Park. After Billy’s completion of law school in 1986, the family moved back to Valdosta for Billy to practice law. Carol branched out and started her first non music employment at Rhodes Furniture and stayed there for one year until she left to go to Peacock’s Paint and Wallpaper. After working there for two years, she decided to go into business for herself and established Carol’s Wallpaper which was very successful. At the same time, Carol was the pianist and an exemplary singer at First Baptist Church of Valdosta, a post she kept until 1996 when she contracted rheumatoid arthritis and could no longer play the piano to her standard. Carol decided to leave the wallpaper business and established another business named The Vineyard and sold unique household furnishings and other products that you could not buy anywhere else in Valdosta. She was a trail blazer. Carol closed this business and bought Compliments To The Chef and had this business until 1996 when she contracted pulmonary fibrosis and had to sell her business. At that time, she left the business world and came home where she loved to be. Every business venture she had was successful and profitable due to her devotion to her work. There was no second best with Carol. For the last three years, Carol was in charge of Billy’s law practice and was a quick study on how to manage clients and Billy and prepare legal documents.
Carol leaves to treasure her memory her husband Billy, her son Ian Folsom and his son River William Dean Folsom who graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University in May 2018, where he was an honor graduate. Her son Alan Folsom (Julie) and their children, Evan Griffin Folsom, who is a senior and Emily Morgan Folsom, a freshman, both students at the University of Georgia. A brother, Bernard Cooper (Edna), a brother, Wayne Cooper (Gail), a sister, Laura Flythe (Charlie), and a sister, Lenelle Shierling (Julian) also survive her. Carol left many nieces and nephews and friends who will mourn her passing this life to be with God.
Carol was beautiful, had a sweet unpretentious spirit and loved people. She always tried to find the good in everyone she met. She deeply loved her friends, which were many in number. She could light up any room just by her presence. She never had a cross word to say about anyone and was an extraordinary person in so many ways. She believed:
“In thee O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be put to confusion. Deliver me in thy righteousness, and cause me to escape; incline thine ear unto me, and save me. Be thou my strong habitation, whereunto I may continually resort, thou hast given commandment to save me, for thou art my rock and my fortress.” Psalms 71: 1-3
A celebration service of Carol’s life will be held on Monday, October 22, 2018 at 2p.m. in the chapel of the Carson McLane Funeral Home with Rev. Ron Hatchett and Rev. Chuck Owens officiating. Burial will follow at Philadelphia Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Sunday from 4-6 p.m. at the Carson McLane Funeral Home. Condolences to the family may be expressed online at www.mclanecares.com. Carson McLane.