Carolyn Monsour Dorroll, 1928-2014

On Wednesday, March 26, the Lebanese-American community in NC lost a generous and loving person. In true Lebanese fashion, Carolyn is survived by a large family: her son, Phil Dorroll and life partner, Ruth Farmer, of Sarasota, Fla.; her daughters, Nikki Sessoms and husband, Wayne, of Fayetteville, and DeeDee Dalrymple and husband, Ed, of Charlotte; her brothers, Eddie Monsour and wife, Kathryn, and Jimmy Monsour and wife, Sheila; her sister, Rosalie Berti and husband, Steve, all of Fayetteville; her 10 grandchildren, Phillip Dorroll, Nicholas Dorroll and wife, Aimee, Jessica Dorroll, Scott Sessoms and wife, Michelle, Nicole Payne and husband, Gardner, Anthony Sessoms and wife, Ellen, Natalie Nevitt and husband, Josh, Elizabeth Dalrymple, Carolyn Dalrymple and Eddie Dalrymple; and her seven great-grandchildren, Whitney Sessoms, Layne Sessoms, Megan Sessoms, Marshall Payne, Fleet Payne, Kate Payne and Leland Nevitt.

Carolyn contributed so much to the Lebanese in North Carolina Project through the most recent museum exhibition. We are honored to have worked with her, recorded her stories, and documented her family treasures.  Even in her passing, Carolyn kept the Khayrallah Program for Lebanese-American Studies in her thoughts. In lieu of flowers, Carolyn asked that contributions be made to the Program. We are lucky to have known such an inspiring community member. We honored Carolyn in the March/April newsletter here:

There has also been an outpouring of thoughts from fellow community members. Here is a note from Francis Younger:

It was amazing for me, a non-Lebanese to see this website tonight after earlier today (Mar 31st) burying one of the people who was interviewed for this project, Carolyn Monsour Dorroll of Fayetteville. I could not begin to express my love and admiration for the Lebanese people of North Carolina. I am a very rich and blessed man for knowing each and everyone of them. It was Joseph Monsour, the twin brother of Carolyns mother, Mary, who was instrumental in establishing the 1st Maronite Catholic Church in the Carolinas in Fayetteville. This family’s example of love, family and religion prompted me to change my Catholic rite from Latin to Maronite. I was also privileged to assist in the establishing of the Maronite mission in Raleigh by providing my megar skills as singer and organist along with Carolyn and our Maronite priest, Fr Larry Jensen to bring the rich religious tradition of the Maronite rite to the Lebanese people of Raleigh. They are my friends and have become over the years my extended family. Carolyn and her entire family and my friends in Raleigh are “my heart”. My life has been blessed 100 fold. Carolyn Monsour Dorroll exudes what it is to be a Lebanese-American. She has left her mark on us all. God rest her soul.

And there have been several obituaries from local sources: Fayetteville Observer, News & Observer, and Rogers and Breece Funeral Home.

To her family, we hope you are healing. To the community, let us remember Carolyn always!