Our beloved and devoted daughter, sister, mother, aunt, cousin, grandmother and friend Carolyn Frances Atherly departed from this world on January 1, 2010. Carolyn was born on December 28, 1943 in Atlantic City Medical Center as a precious gift to Augustus Habron and Helen Sipes Habron. She graduated from Pleasantville High School in 1961 and immediately following, attended the University of Connecticut graduating in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science degree in History. After college Carolyn decided that she wanted to join President Lyndon Johnson’s war on poverty and became a social worker. Soon afterwards, Carolyn began her career at Atlantic Human Resources Inc., a multi-service nonprofit agency in Atlantic City, which serves as an umbrella agency for Head Start and other programs which provide support, assistance and aide for low income families in Atlantic and Cape May County. "Mrs. A", which she was affectionately known by her staff as, later became the director of Social Services for Project Head Start, and eventually acquired the position of Director for the entire Head Start program in Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Carolyn held positions on the Child Care Advisory Council of New Jersey, and also served several terms as the president of the New Jersey Association of Head Start Directors. Carolyn strived for perfection and excellence in her role as Director. She emphasized the goals of the Head Start organization ensuring that her staff and all associated with the program remembered that the object of the program was to provide early childhood education for low income and disadvantaged children ages 3-5.

Carolyn who later became a resident of Egg Harbor Township, NJ, was known by township children as "Mrs. Shirley". Her door remained opened for children of her family, neighborhood, and township. Carolyn’s belief in advocacy for children developed her home into an unofficial safe haven for children and there they came to have fun, relax and experience a freedom that gave them comfort and a break from their everyday lives.

Carolyn had a strong personal relationship with the lord and was a member of the missionary society at St. Paul C.M.E. church in Egg Harbor City, NJ. Those who knew Carolyn, "Mrs. A", or "Mrs. Shirley" or ever came in contact with her were aware of her undying compassion, love, support and selflessness. She was a woman of great integrity and strength and will be truly missed.