We pause to pay tribute to one so dear. Her smiling face, kind words, her love and dedication to her family, church and community will ever linger in our memories.  She will ever be near us. She served her Lord and her people with a beautiful Christian life. Her influence will always live in the lives of those who were a part of her life.

Carolyn Gillard Gaffney was the youngest daughter of late Collins Eddie and Mary Hastie Gillard.  She was born in Sumter, South Carolina, on November 1st, 1950 and departed this earthly life on October 15th, 2024. Her grandparents are the late James and Lula Wright Hastie and the late Frank and Isabelle Gillard.

In her early childhood, she dedicated her life to Christ and joined New Bethel Baptist Church where she was a faithful and dedicated member and Christian. She served as a member of the Mass Choir, Sunday School and Women's Missionary Society. Carolyn was educated in the public schools of Sumter County and is a 1968 graduate of Lincoln High School. After high school, she attended and graduated from South Carolina State College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting. She then graduated with a Masters of Accountancy from the University of South Carolina in 1974. After graduation, Carolyn moved to Tampa, Florida and worked with the Internal Revenue Service as a field analyst. She returned to Sumter in 1976 to teach undergraduate accounting at Morris College for one year before being recruited back to her alma mater to join the School of Business faculty at SC State in the Department of Accounting.

For over 33 years, Mrs. Gaffney was an outstanding Associate Professor of Accounting and an Administrator in the School of Business at SC State. Carolyn also earned her Certified Public Accountant license with the South Carolina Board of Accountancy in 1983, making her one of the first African American women to earn the CPA license in the state of South Carolina. She was awarded numerous accolades at SC State including a multi-time teacher of the year in the School of Business as well as recognition for her 30 plus of service to the University. It was at SC State as a student where she met Vandy T. Gaffney Sr. of Orangeburg, SC. Years later, they were married in Sumter, SC on August 1, 1982. From their union, they had two children: Vandy (Teddy) Gaffney II and Vanna Nichole Gaffney. Vandy Sr. and Carolyn were married for 42 years.

In the community, Carolyn was a faithful member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church over 35 years, serving in Ward III, as a member and then President of the Mass Choir, President of the Young Women's Axillary, and various other capacities. In college, she was a 1969 initiate of the Beta Sigma Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc and became a proud Golden Soror in 2019. She was an avid supporter of her alma mater, SC State, where she was a life member of the South Carolina State University National Alumni Association. She was also an active member of the Starlight Savings Club of Sumter, South Carolina

Carolyn loved to listen to gospel music and sing with her beautiful soprano voice.  She and her sisters, known as the Gillard Girls around Sumter, were inseparable as they would talk, shop, travel and be with one another at every available opportunity. She loved her granddaughters, Harper Carolyn, 5, who is named after her grandmother, and Giselle Elizabeth, 2. She cherished each instance to be their "Grandma!"

Mrs. Carolyn G. Gaffney was a loving and devoted wife, mother, sister, grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend. Those left to cherish her fond memories are her husband Vandy T. Gaffney Sr. of Orangeburg, South Carolina; her son, Vandy T. (Kristin) Gaffney II, M.D., M.S. of Mableton, Georgia and her daughter, Vanna N. Gaffney of Aiken, South Carolina; her sisters, Collette Andrews of Sumter, South Carolina and Louise Dukes of Lewisburg, Tennessee; two granddaughters, Harper Carolyn Gaffney and Giselle Elizabeth Gaffney of Mableton, Georgia; Brother-in-law Bruce B. (Denise) Gaffney Sr. of West Palm, Florida, Aunt-in-law Sandra Franklin of Orangeburg, South Carolina; six nephews Eric A. (Yvette) Andrews of Waverly Hall, Georgia,  Craig Andrews of Sumter, South Carolina, Cedric D. (Esterlene) Dukes of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, Landon C. (Tiffany) Dukes of College Grove, Tennessee, Bruce B. Gaffney Jr. and Desmond Gaffney, both of Orangeburg, South Carolina; one niece, Mutsia Stewart of Atlanta, Georgia as well as a host of cousins, other relatives and dear friends.