Ms. Carolyn Lee Dillon of The Lakeside on Amelia Island, Fl. passed away October 15, 2021. She was 81. Ms. Dillon is survived by a sister, Patricia Ann Dillon Meeks Pendarvis of Nashville, Tn., many loving nieces and nephews and great-nieces and nephews as well as several extended family members and lifelong friends from her elementary school days, college years and professional life. She was a member of Amelia Baptist Church where she sang in the choir.
Ms. Dillon was born in Forsyth County, Winston-Salem, N.C. to Maybeth M. Steidley Dillon and Emerson Clark Dillon. She grew up in High Point, N.C. and graduated from Duke University in Durham, N.C. with a Bachelors degree in social work. She graduated from Smith College School for Social Work with a Masters degree in social work. She was in the first group of selected Peace Corps recruits and served in The Ivory Coast of West Africa for two years where she taught English and Natural Science to French-speaking primary students. She also assisted in summers at an upcountry orphanage teaching language and music skills to pre-schoolers.
She spent her professional life at various hospitals and clinics before accepting an offer from Boston University to serve as a professor and administrator in the Department of Social Service. She also had a private clinical practice. She published many papers in her field and was a presenter at numerous conferences. She was awarded the distinguished Metcalfe Teaching Award as recognition of her teaching excellence. After her retirement from Boston University she was re-hired as Professor Emeritus in the Department of Social Work.
There were many more distinctions for service in her life including one from President John F. Kennedy who commended her for her work in the Peace Corps.
There will be no services or funeral as requested by Ms. Dillon. A celebration of her life will be held at a late time. Oxley-Heard Funeral Home in Fernandina Beach is in charge of her cremation as requested. In lieu of flowers those wishing to make a donation in celebration of Carolyn’s life may do so to her scholarship fund. Checks made be made payable to the Trustees of Boston University with a note indicating the gift is for the Carolyn Dillon Scholarship Fund. Gifts may be made online through Boston University or mailed to Boston University Development, Gift Processing, JP Morgan Chase & Co., P. O. Box 22605, New York, NY 10087-2605.