Carolyn J. Dillion-Carter

Dr. Carolyn Jean Dillon Carter, renowned educator and respected businesswoman, was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on August 4, 1939, to William Dillon Sr. and Jean Chivis Dillon. She was the second child of this union and was described as a curious, energetic child with a strong will around other children but always enjoyed conversing with adults.

She attended Downey Elementary School, Edison Junior High School, and William Penn High School. She was a Girl Scout and talented artist who, while in high school, won several art awards and recognition. Her high school art teacher wrote her a lengthy letter, noting her strong sense of design and commitment to artistic protocols. Notably, she expressed an interest in teaching during her senior year and graduated from William Penn High School in 1957.

After graduating from high school, Carolyn was accepted to Cheyney State Teachers College (now Cheyney University) to pursue a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She continued to be an active student in various on-campus student organizations and was elected Sophomore Class Homecoming Queen. She excelled as an education major and did her student teaching in the Philadelphia School System. She graduated in 1963 from Cheyney State Teachers College.

Following her graduation from Cheyney, she was selected by the RBS (Research for Better Schools) Company for a special educational development program in Philadelphia, PA. Her focus was on teaching children with special needs. After completing that program, her career quickly accelerated when she returned to Harrisburg to pursue a profession as an elementary education teacher. While teaching full-time, Carolyn completed advanced graduate coursework in supervision and evaluation, stakeholder engagement, and childhood development.

While in college, she dated Robert Carter – a student at West Virginia State University. Robert "Bob" Carter graduated from West Virginia State University as a 2nd Lieutenant with a BS in Business. He entered the US military after graduation and served in numerous assignments, including a deployment to Germany as a US Army officer. After he returned to Harrisburg to work as a business executive, Robert Carter and Carolyn Jean Dillon were united in marriage in 1969. In that same year the couple welcomed their son, Robert Carter II. In 1978, the family welcomed their daughter, Brandy Jené Cater.

Her children and grandchildren brought so much joy into Carolyn's life. She was proud of their children's academic and personal achievements and often reminisced about small joys, such as their learning to ride a bicycle and participating in school activities. COPPER is a children's book she wrote that helps readers understand how feeling valued fosters a child's sense of belonging, contributes to a positive self-image, and enhances their sense of connection. Carolyn and Bob Carter also sponsored Nigerian students Steve and Stella Akinretoye (now of Lagos, Nigeria). She was devoted to her family, proud of their accomplishments, and felt that her most outstanding personal achievement was being a wife, mother, grandmother, and mentor to her sisters, brothers, and the entire extended family. Carolyn chaired several family reunions and hosted many civic and social events at her home.

Carolyn had a strong desire to be an exceptional educator. She earned her MA from Western Maryland College in 1975. In 1993, she was awarded a PhD in Education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her dissertation focused on educational administration and assessment strategies.

For more than thirty years, as an elementary and middle school educator, she served in various capacities, including teacher and well-respected administrator, within the Harrisburg School District. Carolyn was a strong, supportive leader who fostered a positive school environment and a peerless dedication to the success of both students and staff.

Everyone who knows Dr. Carolyn Carter recalled how she always wanted to initiate learning for preschool children through a combination of culturally focused play, teacher-led lessons, and engaging learning experiences. For these reasons, Carolyn and Bob Carter started the Strawberry Garden Preschool to benefit children, families, and the greater Harrisburg Community. They worked tirelessly to ensure that the Strawberry Garden Preschool was a safe and nurturing environment that prepared children for future academic success. For over thirty years, the Strawberry Garden Preschool also contributed to the economic vitality of a community by creating jobs and supporting working families.

Dr. Carolyn Carter was a proud member of the Epsilon Sigma Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. She was initiated into the Harrisburg Chapter in 1979. As evidence of her resolve and devotion to the Chapter, she served on many committees to strengthen the Harrisburg community and designed many of the original graphic illustrations used by the Harrisburg Chapter in their service projects and Scholarship Cotillions. As an active member of the Harrisburg (PA) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated, Carolyn steadfastly supported the organization's educational, cultural enrichment, and civic activities.

As a child, Carolyn Carter was baptized into the Christian faith at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in Steelton, PA. She was active in the Sunday School and the Summer Bible School, and she participated as a member of the children's choir. After her marriage, Carolyn joined Bob Carter's church, the Capital Presbyterian Church, and they both supported this vibrant community of believers dedicated to following Jesus with passion and joy. About ten years ago, she joined the Greater Zion Missionary Baptist Church of Harrisburg, PA.

Robert "Rob" Carter cared for his mother with selfless devotion and unmatched fidelity. On every level, Isreal Carter's faithfulness and commitment to his grandmother's care were beyond compare. Their dedication and attention to Caroyn's care over the course of many years are truly a testament to love and commitment.

Early on Friday, June 19, 2025, Dr. Carolyn Carter quietly transitioned from labor to reward. Six days before her passing, she gave a brave smile to her sister Kathy and brother Eddie, and two days before God called her home, she gave Abena, Libby, and Lou an "I Love You wink, nod, and smile"! Carolyn leaves to mourn her memory a treasured son, Robert Carter II; her cherished daughter, Brandy Carter of Harrisburg, PA; two brothers, William Dillon, Jr, of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and Edward T. Clark, Jr, of Laurel, MD; two sisters, Elizabeth Clark-Lewis (Lawrence) of Washington, DC and Kathryn Clark-Benjamin (Gregory) of Newark, DE; grandchildren Israel Rashaad Carter, Jordan Richardson, Tatianah Carter, Christianah Carter, and Pryce Carter; an Aunt Merle Chivis of Harrisburg and an Uncle Eugene George (Baltimore, MD). She was preceded in death by the great love of her life, her husband, Robert Carter, Sr.; her parents, William Dillon and Jean Chivis Dillon Clark; and her brother, Robert J. Dillon. Left to cherish Carolyn's sweet memories are her many nephews, nieces, cousins, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Sorors, professional colleagues, community leaders, former students, and, of course, her many dear, devoted, and amazing friends, too numerous to name.