“One Life to Live”

Presiding Elder Carolyn Colson Demps, lovingly called “Pastor Carolyn,” was born on March 29, 1945, in Greenville, Florida, but grew up with her siblings in Tallahassee, Florida. She was the fourth of seven children born to Deacon Willie Lee Colson and Elder Minnie L. Bryant Colson. Pastor Carolyn was a resident of Perry, Florida.

 

Preceding Pastor Carolyn in death were her parents; sons: Corey Demps and Willie Demps; daughters: Evelyn Demps and Carolyn Demps; brother: Augustus Colson; sisters: Evelyn Williams Gordon and Gail Colson.

 

“I Hear Jesus Calling Me to Holiness”

Pastor Carolyn, at the tender age of seven, accepted Christ as her personal Savior under the pastoral leadership of Elder Amanda Kimble. She became a member of Mt. Sinai Prayer Temple. As Pastor Carolyn grew in faith, she accepted the divine call and joined her family legacy of spiritual leaders. She moved as prophetically as her mother. Pastor Carolyn worked tirelessly as: Sunday School teacher, choir member, National Youth Convention District Coordinator, assistant minister (for her mother) at Bethel of Mt. Sinai, President and Vice President of the National Home and Foreign Missionary Convention, secretary of the Southern District Convention, and Chairperson of the Celebration Committee for the Prelate of the Southern District. Pastor Carolyn provided dynamic leadership for 20+ years as Presiding Elder of Georgia and South Carolina. During this time, the youth from the Southern District were National Bible Bowl champions on multiple occasions.

 

Pastor Carolyn succeeded her mother in becoming the Pastor of Bethel of Mt. Sinai-Mayo, Florida. She was also the Co-Pastor of Christian Tabernacle – Perry, Florida.  

 

“I Am Not Leaving Here Like I Came”

Pastor Carolyn fulfilled her childhood dream of becoming an educator. She pursued her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in education at Florida A & M University. Her 32-year teaching career began at Kerbo Elementary School in Mayo and concluded with her as administrator of the Taylor County Pre-K Program in Perry. As a leader in education, Pastor Demps served as President of the Teacher’s Union, and she created “Read-N-Tell” for the Taylor County School System which merited the National Little Red Schoolhouse Award for this outstanding reading program. Pastor Demps’ innumerable contributions resulted in her induction into the Taylor County Education Hall of Fame.

 

“Elijah Rock”

Pastor Carolyn and Elder Chester Demps discipled young people and groomed them to become well-educated, successful professionals in their chosen careers. She also used her influence with youth, her passion for ministry and music to become the founder of the Taylor Interdenominational Christian Outreach (TICO) to touch their lives and to bring unsaved ones to Christ through participation in choirs and uniquely branded events, such as the Miss Lady Pageant and Annual Jesus Rally. Because of her talent for melodically singing in contralto, she was called “Elijah Rock” by college friends and “The Songbird of the South” by others. Together with the TICO Youth Choir and the singing sextet, Daughters of Harmony, they produced two albums featuring original songs of “Elijah Rock.” She was also instrumental in the founding of Alms of Bethel Community Development Center (currently the Boys and Girls Club) in Mayo, with successful youth programs, such as Safe School Grant, Department of Juvenile Justice, Sexual Abstinence Program with the Florida Department of Health, and Valor & Virtue.

 

In honor of her investment in the youth and community, the City Council of Perry, Florida presented  “The Key to the City” to her and officially decreed July 14th as “Carolyn Demps Day.”  

 

“When I See Jesus”

On Friday, May 10, 2024, Presiding Elder Carolyn Colson Demps heard the Master whisper her name and in the twinkling of an eye, she entered the Master’s joy to receive her heavenly reward.

 

“I’m Living to Live Again”

 Those who will deeply miss Pastor Carolyn but have hope to see her again include her loving and devoted husband of 52 years: Elder Chester H. Demps; beloved daughter: Ordained Evangelist Charita Hope Demps, Esq.; brothers: Jerome (Margaret) Colson and Johnny Colson; sister: Mary Colson Clayton; grandchildren: Brion Demps, Jacoreyus Demps, and Addison Demps; brothers-in-love: Thomas (Lueva) Demps, Jimmie Demps, Charles Demps, Harry Demps, Willie Jean (Janet) Demps, George (Alfreda) Demps, Herman Demps, and Joseph Demps; sister-in- love: Geneva Colson; godchildren: Cynthia Henry, Syretta (Vincent) Thigpen, Caleb (Clara) Reaves, Brittani Fisher, Swayze Beasley, and Jessica (Daniel) Morin; loving church families: Bethel of Mt. Sinai, Christian Tabernacle, Mt. Sinai Holy Churches of America, Inc.; along with countless other loving relatives and sorrowing friends.