Carolyn Gwynn Hearp

Carolyn Gwynn Hearp, 73 of Reidsville, NC passed away in her home on Sunday, June 29th 2025.

Carolyn was born the eldest of three children to Howard Burton Gwynn, Sr. and Ruby Irene Smith Gwynn Bailey on January 14th, 1952 in Danville, VA.

Carolyn met the love of her life Alfred Lee Hearp, Jr. in August of 1969. They married on November 20th 1971, surrounded by friends and family in her childhood home. In 1973, Carolyn and Alfred had their first child, Melanie. In 1975, they welcomed twin boys, Matthew and Mark. She was an amazing, hardworking mother who made sure her children were loved and cared for every day.

Carolyn was extremely talented in so many ways…an expert cake decorator, baking He-Man, Batman, Barbie, Superman cakes for all of her children’s birthdays. She also created elaborate wedding cakes. Later in life, Carolyn developed a passion for crafting and quilting. She loved her quilting community and her quilting friends always had a special place in her heart.

Carolyn loved being around people. She would “work” for many years at Farmer’s Table Restaurant. She loved spending time with her restaurant crew , customers and made life-long friends she loved dearly.

Carolyn was a loving child care provider for so many children out of her home. She would list her profession as “homemaker”. She was so much more than a daycare provider and she became family to the children she kept, growing up with her own children and grandchildren. She maintained life-long bonds with the children she raised, loving them as her own.

Carolyn wore many crowns: Wife, Momma, Daughter, and Friend but the crown she loved the most was YAYA to her grandchildren. Yaya loved spending time with them. She would be the loudest cheerleader at every performance, awards assembly, football game. soccer match, dance recitals and theater performances.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her husband Alfred Lee Hearp Jr, her father Howard Burton Gwynn, Sr., by her mother Ruby Irene Smith Gwynn Bailey and by her brother Timothy Wayne Gwynn.

She is survived by her children Melanie Hearp Morrison (John) of Reidsville, NC, Dr. Matthew Lee Hearp (Cathy) of Blacksburg, VA, Mark Lee Hearp (Mine) of Fayetteville, NC and her loving brother Howard Burton Gwynn, Jr (Donna) of Danville, VA. She will be missed and remembered dearly by her five precious grandchildren Brenna, Maddie, Morgan, Marlowe, and Ruby.

A celebration of Carolyn’s life will be held Monday , July 7th 2025. Visitation with the family will be from 2:30 to 4:00pm at Wilkerson Funeral Home in Reidsville. Funeral will be held thereafter. Interment will be directly after at Evergreen Memory Gardens in Reidsville, NC.

Family and friends will be at Melanie Hearp Morrison’s house July 1st and 2nd, 151 Cedar Crest Court, Reidsville NC. Carolyn asked for everyone to wear bright colors to celebrate her life.