She was born September 18, 1919 in Sumner, Georgia to the late William and Janie Bridges. Carolyn was a retired Registered Nurse and was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Lake Wales. She was part of the Lake Wales Women’s Club, the past President of the Spook Hill Elementary School PTO, the Grand Marshall for the Lake Wales Christmas parade in 2019 and was an avid reader.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband, Elmer L. Stephens in 2008; and brothers, William Bridges, Jr., and Julian Bridges. She is survived by her daughter, Pat Johnson and husband Kary of Hollywood; sons, Elmer Stephens, Jr. and wife Sandy of Lake Wales, and Bob Stephens and wife Diane of Lake Wales; grandchildren, Christa Hollingshead and husband Marty of Warner Robbins, Georgia, Kelly Croom and husband Keith of Fayetteville, North Carolina, and Summer Walker and husband Jeremy of Babson Park; and seven great-grandchildren.

A visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Thursday, February 11, 2021 with the funeral service at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 12, 2021 at Marion Nelson Funeral Home in Lake Wales with Rev. Walter Nelson and Rev. Scott Thompson officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Florida United Methodist Children’s Home (51 Children’s Way, Enterprise, FL 32725) or to Good Shepherd Hospice (3010 W. Azeele Street Suite 120, Tampa, FL, 33609).