Carolyn O’Brien Drose, 91, passed away peacefully, surrounded by the people who loved her, after a life defined by devotion to family and community.

Born on July 3, 1934, Carolyn became the steady center of her family. She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose care was expressed in action. As a grandmother, she would happily drive across town to pick up a child whose parents were still working, often stopping along the way for a favorite treat and then helping with homework. No inconvenience ever seemed to matter. Showing up was simply what she did.

For many years, Carolyn served as Director of St. Andrews Parks and Playground in West Ashley, Charleston, SC, overseeing a large community sports program that became a second home to generations of children. The playground was more than fields and games; it was a gathering place and a source of belonging. Because racism never made sense to her, Carolyn and her husband, Robert, were steady voices in the 1960s supporting the integration of the playground’s programs. They helped ensure that African-American children — who had previously walked long distances to separate “Black” fields — were welcomed into the community. Under her leadership, St. Andrews Parks and Playground flourished. True to her thoughtful nature, she helped hire her own successor and worked alongside him before retiring, ensuring that the community she loved would continue to thrive.

Family holidays were marked not only by togetherness but by her cooking. Her macaroni and cheese and sweet potato casserole were the undisputed highlights of family gatherings. She also loved keeping up with the Atlanta Braves and followed the team with impressive attention to detail. She could analyze a season, debate a trade, and occasionally offer pointed critiques of management decisions — often with the confidence of someone who felt she could have set the lineup herself. It especially delighted her grandchildren, who could hardly believe their elderly grandmother had such sharp insight into the game.

Carolyn was kind, gracious, a sensitive listener, and a great storyteller. Her grandchildren loved hearing her perspective on the world. People experienced her as warmth, a gentle presence marked by concern and quiet strength. She made others feel seen. She made them feel safe. Her family and the community she served carry forward her gentleness in the way they live and love.

Carolyn’s greatest pride was her family. She shared a close and enduring bond with her daughter Julie and her grandchildren Jessica and Nicholas, rooted in years of shared daily life and care. 

She was predeceased by her daughter, Julie Leonard, and is survived by her sons, Michael (Laura De La Maza) Drose and Gerald (Dina Zeckhausen) Drose; her son-in-law, Brad Leonard, her grandchildren, Oliver (Mary Frances Callis) Drose, Lauren (Joel) Klasen, Gabrielle Drose, Christopher Drose, Jessica Lawson, Cooper Drose, Nicholas Leonard, Schuyler Drose; and her great-grandchildren, Maddux Saunders, Finn Long, Lillian Drose, and Sinclair Drose.

A Celebration of Life will be held Saturday, March 14, at 1:00 p.m. at Westminster Presbyterian Church, 1157 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., Charleston, SC 29407.  A reception will follow, where friends and family are invited to share stories and honor a life well-lived.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in honor of the wonderful staff of The Village at Summerville by mailing a check or making an online contribution to the PCSC Community, 2817 Ashland Rd., Columbia, SC 29210. Please note in the memo line: “Employee Appreciation – In Memory of Carolyn O. Drose.” https://giving.prescommunities.org/