Obituary of Carolyn Lee Crist

Carolyn (Lucy) Powell Crist

1948 – 2023

Carolyn Powell Crist – beloved wife, mom and grandma – went home to be with her Lord on Wednesday, November 29^th at the age of 75 in Lynchburg, VA.

Born in Amherst County, she grew up at 104 Main Street in Madison Heights, as an only child to Mr. Robert Lee and Claudine Johnson Powell.  Important to Carolyn was the fact her grandmother, “Granny,” lived with her and her parents.  Also, it was in that neighborhood where Carolyn met her first boyfriend (and one day future husband), Mike Crist.  They dated for most of high school until she graduated from Amherst County High in 1966.  After a courtship during Mike’s tour in the Navy, she married at the age of 20, bought their first home on Leesville Road and went to work for HK Porter.

Carolyn was good with numbers and people – she understood both very well.  These skills took her through other career stops at Gould Battery and SunTrust Bank, but her greatest accomplishment, as she would often say, was being a mom to two twin boys, Steve and Greg.  No doubt, being a full-time mom and employee is difficult, but she accomplished both with poise, presence, and personality.

Some of Carolyn’s most favorite things in life: her Schnauzer puppy, sunbathing, holiday home decorating, big-hoop earrings, a signature corn pudding dish, and spoiling her grandkids with ice cream for breakfast. 

Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents and grandmother.  She is survived by her husband of 53 years, Mike Crist; her sons Steve and Greg; her daughter-in-law, Joanna; and her four grandchildren, Madelyn, Abbey, Reid and Samantha.

We thank our heavenly Father for the life of Carolyn Crist.  She was an amazing wife, a doting mom/ grandma/mother-in-law, and a true friend.  Our hearts are broken with her gone, and yet we trust in the promise of John 14:3: “…I go and prepare a place for you…so that where I am, there you may be also.”

The family will receive friends and family for visitation on Monday, December 4^th from 5:30-7:00 pm at Diuguid Funeral Home, 21914 Timberlake Rd in Lynchburg, VA.  The memorial service will take place on Tuesday, December 5^th, at 1pm at the same Diuguid location, followed by a graveside burial at Virginia Memorial Park at 11490 Forest Rd in Forest.