Born on February 24, 1945, in Anniston, Alabama, Legacy Village of Jacksonville resident Carolyn Faye Coley grew up surrounded by the close-knit community of Wellborn. The daughter of John R. and Loren Coley, she attended Mechanicsville Elementary and later Walter Wellborn High School where the first chapter of her lifelong love story began.



As a high school student, Carolyn met Benny Mitchell through a mutual friend. Their connection was swift and deep, so much so that by the age of 16, Carolyn and Benny had married on a crisp September day in 1960, right in the comfort of her mother’s home in Wellborn. Their young love would soon become the foundation for a lifetime together.

The early years of their marriage were marked by change and new beginnings. Benny worked in Fairfax, Alabama, prompting the couple to move closer to his job. It was there that they welcomed their first child, a joyful milestone that led them back to Wellborn where they settled near Bynum Leatherwood Road for the next twenty years, a place filled with memories and family milestones.

Seeking a new chapter, Carolyn and Benny purchased over sixty-three acres in Ohatchee, Alabama. There they built a beautiful home beside a four-acre lake, a serene retreat where their daughter Charlotte grew up alongside cows, horses, ducks and the rhythms of farm life. Carolyn cherished this lakeside haven, lovingly built by Benny, as a true sanctuary.

Beyond her roles as wife and mother, Carolyn dedicated over twenty years to working at Tape Craft where she operated a blocking machine. Proudly, she remembers being the first worker to meet production goals within a two-week period, a testament to her work ethic and determination.

Carolyn’s passions extend into her creative hands. She is an accomplished seamstress who delights in quilting, crafting personalized quilts and matching pillows for each of her five grandchildren. Her love for the outdoors shines through in memories of fishing and horseback riding from her younger days.

Together, Carolyn and Benny raised three children, two boys and a daughter, growing their family to fifteen grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and ten great-great-grandchildren. Reflecting on her life, Carolyn fondly describes Benny as her “rock,” the steady presence supporting her through every season.

Today, Carolyn is a valued resident at Legacy Village of Jacksonville. We are grateful to know her and honored to share in this next chapter of her remarkable life.