Thoughts for the Times

A dear and special friend to the Carrabelle community died Sunday afternoon, but her memory will live on in her work and spirit for years to come.

Carolyn Sparks, branch manager of the Carrabelle library passed away at Bay Medical Center after a sudden short illness.

She was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery less than 10 days ago and although the surgery seemed successful, her heart and organs proved unable to stand the strain. She died with her sisters Linda and Georgia at her side.

Carolyn had lived in other areas of the country before she came to Carrabelle. One of my best recent memories was of her teaching the genealogy course to our group in the library meeting room. She had studied her own family connections and roots, and so could speak knowledgeably of the “tricks” and techniques for our personal search activities.

She shared examples of her family name spelled different ways as she had discovered during her research. She told how she was preparing a copy of her family genealogy book for each of her sisters so they would have the information she had already found. She also explained how interesting the work had become to some of her own extended family, and assured us that we too would enjoy the investigations and findings. Her personal experiences proved to be our inspirations.

Carolyn loved to share her knowledge and at the same time learn from others. She was an important connection within the book group, making sure copies were available and often leading the discussions and suggesting new topics. She attended many of the community meetings held in the library meeting room and offered help and support for almost all events planned there.

She was a mainstay for local activities, always staying informed on plans and activities while promoting each activity among the library patrons and visitors. During my term as Carrabelle mayor, she was an invaluable resource of information and research even as she became a dear friend. (And her unfailing patience with my hopeless copier and computer ineptitudes endeared her to me from the very beginning of our earliest relationship!)

Carolyn was the glue that helped put the struggling infant library together for Carrabelle. As a friend who worked with her in those early days said, “We tried to convince people that just because we never had these services before didn't mean they weren’t needed. We worked hard to get programs passed.”

While the books were housed in “temporary” facilities, such as the storefront near the pharmacy, Carolyn made sure everything was well displayed and easy to find. When the library finally moved to its current home (built with bravely cultivated community support and initiated by the Paul Newman recipe grant gift), she took great pride in sharing the success of the fundraising effort and making sure the facility was well maintained and user-friendly within the frustrating limits of the design.

She had an important business sense as well as an understanding of books and organization. She was excited to attend professional conventions when permitted, and always returned with new ideas and opportunities to share with the community. Although not a professionally trained librarian, she learned quickly and made the library welcoming and helpful to children and adults alike. Her work with the literacy program helped change lives for the better, and her understanding of the importance of involving children in reading at an early age influenced many Carrabelle youngsters to find new adventures and hope within the pages of books. It was Carolyn who helped many a former student obtain their much-needed GED equivalency certificate to help them better their futures.

Carolyn set a wonderful example for her Carrabelle family. She was proud of them, and shared their lives and accomplishment; she included us in the party to say “goodbye” to her grandson as he left for the service last summer. Her sister Georgia moved from Texas and they shared Carolyn’s new double-wide and love of all things Elvis!  Carolyn was justly proud of her country house; she filled it with children, family, guests and animals who all felt comfortably at home!

Her life was not an easy one, and she had an especially tragic chapter when her husband and granddaughter Katy died in an accident some years ago. Now, her friends and extended family will have a terribly sad holiday season this year. As another friend said of Carolyn’s sudden illness and death, “I cannot wrap my brain around it all.”

It is never easy to say “Goodbye” to a friend. I will never see Carolyn again for a smile or a hug, in a class or meeting, as we volunteer together at community events or share a Red Hat meeting. I cannot imagine she will not be at the front desk with her latest hairdo and welcoming smile when I return.

The library lady is gone from us now, but the gift of her life’s work within our midst will linger for many years in the minds and hearts of her friends and patrons. As my beloved daughter wisely said when we were told that Carolyn was bravely confronting her own death, “Perhaps she knows she will be needed in God’s library now more than in ours.”

Goodbye, my friend Carolyn, from all of us whose lives you touched. Please hear our gratitude. You made us better because you were here!