Born Mary Carolyn Chappell to Charles Ulmer "Chap" Chappell and Cora Greer Chappell, in Chula, Georgia, on August 13, 1934, in the midst of the Great Depression, she was the fourth child and only daughter in a family of proud and hard-working South Georgia farmers. Her independent and fierce personality stood her well among older brothers who both adored her and teased her immensely. Their collective stories of growing up with stern and Baptist guidance touched with a high sense of humor found in everyday life among hard times lend a greater understanding of the factors that shaped Carolyn's life. Never one to let an obstacle slow her down, "Oh well" was about all she'd be heard to say as she found and developed a new route to where she needed to be or do.

In 1952, at the young age of 19, she left the family farm and Tifton to marry Robert E. Hall, III. Sixteen years her senior, he cherished Carolyn and together, in Texas, they raised three children: Natalie, Rick, and Andy. Sharing their mutual passion for gardening, this became a well-loved life that consumed practically every available weekend of the 11 and a half months each year that it is not cold in Houston. Carolyn often said she owed everything she knew about life to Bob Hall. If nothing else, he greatly improved her fishing abilities leaving her with a life-long love of Zebco 33 reels. In 1977, Bob and Carolyn, along with Rick and Andy, returned to Tifton where Bob would eventually pass away in March of 1978.

In 1983, Carolyn married Robert "Ed" Smylie of, at that time, Washington, DC. This increased the size of the family with the inclusion of Ed's three children, Steve, Susan, and Lisa. Ed, the quiet NASA engineer (and unassuming, perhaps unwilling, "hero" of Apollo 13) adored Carolyn and lived by a well-worn mantra of "Whatever Carolyn wants." Together, they traveled the globe from Spain and Portugal to Japan and everywhere in between.

Residing first in Yardley, Pennsylvania, they next moved to Reston, Virgina, where Carolyn kept gorgeous landscapes and a beautiful and a welcoming home. Whether she was making breakfast, entertaining friends and neighbors, or feeding crowds of family, she pulled it off every time with a sumptuous meal and a casual air of "Oh, it was really nothing." Often enough, whatever she prepared was her first shot any one of thousands of new recipes she constantly collected and tried. Her only failing in the kitchen being those hard sourdough rolls (to a yet another chorus of cheerful ribbing from the kids of "MOM BURNED THE BREAD AGAIN!")."

In 1999, Ed and Carolyn built the dream home up on the Cumberland Plateau at the edge of a shady cove on pretty Lake Dartmoor in Fairfield Glade, Tennessee. Here, Ed enjoyed golf and retirement, and Carolyn went to work creating even more beautiful gardens and another gorgeous home. The best gift possible, and the one thing that made her as giddy as a little girl, was getting a gift card to her favorite nursery where she would take along her friend and load up on plants to take back and plant that day.

Together, Carolyn and Ed developed deep and loving relationships with the many neighbors around them. Creating somewhat of "gourmet club," Carolyn continued with her passion for cooking and entertaining. Their friends reciprocated with unrelenting willingness to see to it that the two of them received all the support and care they needed in their advancing ages. Whether it was running errands, taking them shopping, taking care of things around the home, or simply checking on them to make sure all was okay, these wonderful people took precious time from their daily lives to make sure Carolyn and Ed were cared for and about. For this, the family is deeply and eternally grateful.

Mary Carolyn Chappell Hall Smylie passed away peacefully in her sleep on November 19, 2024. She is survived by her husband Robert E. Smylie, her children Natalie Hall and her husband Gary Hill (of Gainesville, Texas) and Andrew Hall and his wife Kathy Hall (of Tallahassee, Florida), Ed's children Steven Smylie (of Kittyhawk, North Carolina), Susan Smylie (of San Antonio, Texas), and Lisa Willis and her husband Geoff Willis (of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma). Affectionately known as "Nanny," Carolyn is also survived by 12 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren. As "Aunt Carolyn," she is survived by her many nieces and nephews.

Carolyn is preceded in death by her husband Robert E. Hall, III; son Richard M. Hall; brothers William A, Lee, and Charles Chappell; and parents Charles and Cora Greer Chappell. A celebration of her life will be scheduled at a later time.