Mrs. Carolyn Ferrell Sykes

Carolyn Ferrell Sykes, age 89, entered her eternal rest surrounded by love on Saturday evening, February 7, 2026. Her journey began in Nash County on April 27, 1936, daughter of George Cornless and Virginia Morgan Ferrell.

Carolyn was married to the love of her life, Gerald Sykes, for fifty-two years. They were blessed with two daughters, Lynn and Sherri. Together they built a home filled with faith, laughter, generosity, and open doors.

Carolyn was a longtime and faithful member of Elm Grove Baptist Church, where she served the Lord joyfully for decades. She was active in the WMU for nearly 50 years, taught Sunday School, worked in the nursery, and helped with Vacation Bible School year after year. She read her Bible faithfully, often reading it through multiple times, and lived out her faith not just in words, but in daily acts of love.

She and her husband also shared a special gift for hospitality. They loved to garden together, and they loved to feed people. Their home was a gathering place — for church members, neighbors, friends, and anyone who needed a meal or fellowship. Whether it was a fish fry after a good day of fishing, a backyard barbecue, or a table full of home-cooked food, Carolyn and Gerald served with glad hearts, never charging or expecting anything in return. Feeding people and caring for them was their calling and their joy. Carolyn also served on mission trips, cooking for young people and supporting the work of the church wherever she was needed. Her service was quiet, faithful, and constant.

Above all else, Carolyn loved the Lord, and she loved her family. She was gentle, tender, easygoing, and endlessly giving. She had a joyful spirit, a ready laugh, and loved telling silly jokes. Dementia came and took much from her in later years, including the time she might have spent fully knowing her great-grandchildren, but it could never take away the life she lived or the love she poured into others. She was, simply put, the best mama— loving beyond measure, giving beyond reason, and faithful to the end.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Gerald Sykes; brother, Stewart Ferrell; sister, Charlotte Harrell and grandson, Patrick Patterson.

She leaves a lifetime of treasured memories for her daughters, Sherri Sykes Lewis (Linwood) of Tarboro and Lynn Sykes Israel (Edmond) of Nashville; brother, Wayne Ferrell (Margaret) of Rocky Mount; along with several nieces, nephews and other extended relatives.

Carolyn was especially proud of and adored her grandchildren, Morgan Patterson Wilson (Josh), Linwood Thomas Lewis III (Ashley), Matthew Gerald Lewis (Allison) and Jake Kennedy (Kaylee) and great-grandchildren, Michael Wilson, Jaxon Wilson, Mackenzie Wilson, Hadley Lewis, Linwood Lewis IV, AnnaBeth Kennedy, Molly Kennedy, Shelby Kate Lewis and Carson Kennedy.

Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of faith, service, generosity, and love that will continue through all who were blessed to know her.

A graveside service to honor God and celebrate Carolyn’s wonderful life will be at 2:00pm on Wednesday, February 11, 2026 at Rocky Mount Memorial Park with Pastor Mike Edwards and Pastor Roy Porter officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 – 8:00pm on Tuesday, February 10, 2026 at Davis-Little Funerals, 2129 Lawrence Circle, Rocky Mount and other times at the home of Sherri in Tarboro and Lynn in Nashville.