In Loving
Memory

Carolyn Snow Shields, 86, of Richmond, passed away on Saturday, October 7, 2023.

She was born in Danville, Virginia on April 2, 1937. Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Cloy Cecil Snow and Mary Sue Dodd Snow; her loving husband of 66 years, Robert “Bobby” Woody Shields, her son, David Wayne Shields; her grandson, Joshua A. Morris; and brother-in-law, James Dale Shields.

Carolyn is survived by her loving and devoted daughter, Kim (Sissy) S. Carswell (Tom); her loving grandchildren, Nikki Brickhouse (Jeffrey), and Mark Morris; great-grandchildren, Luke, and Carly Brickhouse; her sweet sister, Beth Shields of Dry Fork; her special niece, Robin Shields; and nephew, Randy Shields.

Carolyn and her sister, Beth, were raised in Danville on a tobacco farm.  Later in life, Carolyn would meet Bobby, her sweetheart and they would get married.  Bobby enlisted in the Air Force and then eventually into the police academy.  David, their first child would be born in Alaska in 1957 and then she had her second child Kim who was born in Danville in 1959.  Once Bobby was with the Virginia State Police, they moved to Montpelier located in Hanover County.  Carolyn began working in the school cafeteria and then moved up to work as a school secretary for several schools in the county.  Once retiring, she worked part-time at Sam’s Club in Chesterfield.

David lived in Church Hill and Kim lived in Chesterfield where she married and had three wonderful children.  Nikki was born in 1987, Joshua was born in 1991 and Mark was born in 1993.  When Josh was born, he had special needs and they moved to be closer to the grandchildren and to help their daughter out.  Mark was born on the day they moved to Chesterfield, on March 6, 1993.  Carolyn and Bobby loved living in Smoketree especially seeing the children all the time.

Carolyn and Bobby were members of Hopeful Baptist Church while living in Montpelier.  Once they moved to Richmond, they moved their membership to Grove Avenue Baptist Church.  They both loved their church family and enjoyed having dinner on Wednesday nights and also going to Bible Study classes.

Carolyn and Bobby would go to yard sales, and antique sales and would sell antiques at the State Fair grounds.  They loved stopping at stores or shops on their way to Danville to see family.  They always traveled the backroads through Appomattox until they got to Route 29; they just enjoyed the long drive through the country.

In 2005, Carolyn and Bobby lost their son, David, unexpectedly.  His death took a real toll on the family.

In 2017, they would lose their grandson, Joshua on June 3.  He was their pride and joy and felt he was a true blessing from God with his special needs.  In August 2017, Carolyn had a stroke and would be moved into rehabilitation for therapy.  Kim moved in with her father who was showing advanced symptoms of Alzheimer’s and would have to live there until they could find an assisted living facility, which they did in November.  Bobby would live in memory care and Carolyn would be in the other part of the assisted living facility.

Carolyn and Bobby would then move into Canterbury Healthcare and Rehabilitation.  They would spend their last anniversary of 66 years together in June of 2020.   They were at least in the same room together for a while until Bobby passed away in October 2020 from COVID-19.

Carolyn always enjoyed spending days at the nurses’ station or playing bingo with the other residents.  She really enjoyed it when Kim would come by and see her always bringing Lay’s potato chips, diet coke, chocolate chip cookies, and especially flowers.  There were times when the family wouldn’t be allowed in due to COVID-19, so we would all sit outside the window to see her.  She was always so happy to have visits or phone calls.  There would be days when she would ask Kim if she had seen Bobby or David and the only answer Kim would tell her would be, not today.

In the early morning of October 7, at 5:38 a.m. Carolyn would be called home.  I’m sure that Bobby and David met her at the gates of Heaven and welcomed her with open arms.

The family would like to thank all of the caregivers over the years from Elmcroft Assisted Living and Canterbury Healthcare and Rehabilitation Nursing Home.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, November 18 at Affinity Funeral Service, 2720 Enterprise Parkway, Richmond, VA 23294.

Contributions made be made to the Richmond SPCA or to a favorite charity in memory of Carolyn.