Mrs. Carolyn Augustine
Emeritus Member
The Garden Club of North Carolina Parliamentarian 2010-2015
Cape Fear Garden Club Parliamentarian 2007-2015
Cape Fear Garden Club President 1997-1998
SAR Life Member 2006
Honored Guest for Moonlight in the Garden Gala 2015
Cape Fear Garden Club Committees:
Flower Arranging, Azalea Belle, Hospitality, Yearbook, Long Range Planning
Helen Carolyn Bishop Augustine was born September 25, 1927 in Swain County, North Carolina, (near Bryson City). Carolyn lived there until age fourteen when the family moved to Bryson City and then on to Asheville the next year. Carolyn will tell you she grew up in the Great Smokey Mountain National Park and developed an interest for all things flora and fauna at the knee of her mother. She said, “Mother taught us to look at everything that grew – flowers and animals. She had great enthusiasm for all things living…” This love of the outdoor prevails to this day.
At age 16 Carolyn started college, proceeding to go to four colleges in five years. All great colleges: Meredith College, Emory University, UNC Asheville, and UNC Chapel Hill. She graduated with a degree in Parks and Recreation and Carolyn’s first job was Director of Recreation at Miller Park for the City of Winston Salem. In Winston Salem Carolyn directed tennis, baseball, crafts and dances, with activities at the park going from 8:00am to 10:00pm. While a student at Carolina, Carolyn was involved in many activities with swimming being the one most mentioned. Her happiest memory of being at UNC was meeting the handsome football player, Joe Augustine.
Carolyn did marry that handsome football player, Joseph Augustine, who now is a Business Broker and is retired from Director of the Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce. Carolyn and Joe had two children: a son and daughter. Sadly their daughter died in a car accident at age 18. Their son is a retired Marine and now is working for the government. He designed the Assault Breacher Vehicle used to destroy land mines. Defined in Wikipedia as: “These tracked combat vehicles were especially designed to clear pathways for troops and other vehicles through minefields and along roadside bombs and improvised explosive devices.” He is also a team leader at Quantico. Carolyn and Joe have one granddaughter and three step grandchildren and as all grandparents delight in them.
During the years, Carolyn’s hobbies have been gardening, needle point, and travel. While Joe was with the Chamber of Commerce they were able to take many exciting trips and on one Carolyn had the great pleasure of meeting then Governor Ronald Reagan and his beautiful blue eyes, quite a memory.
In 1978 the Augustines moved from Chapel Hill to Wilmington and Carolyn began working for Miller Building. Even then new friends were asking Carolyn to join the Cape Fear Garden Club. Not until she retired from Miller Building in 1992 did she respond to that invite. Ida Newton sponsored Carolyn into the garden club where she has served on almost all of the committees: Azalea Garden Tour Chair, Hospitality Chair, Grant Disbursement Chair, Membership Chair, Flower Arranging, Azalea Belle, Nominating, Yearbook and Budget. She has also served as President and Vice President of Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc., Parliamentarian for Garden Club of North Carolina for the last five years and as Parliamentarian for the Cape Fear Garden Club, Inc, for the past eight years.
In other organizations, she is a past president of N.C. Sorosis, past president of a PEO chapter and on the Advisory Board of UNCW School of Nursing.
Carolyn’s advice to all members of the Club and especially the new members: Read the By-laws.
Interview and Profile completed by Mrs. Carole Ellis. Photograph by Mrs. Linda Snider. November 2014