Carolyn Ann Sanford was born Wednesday, January 29, 1936, in Springfield, Ohio to the late Thomas Burdette Byrd and Anna G. Brown Byrd. In 2008 after the passing of her mother, she made several trips to South Carolina and eventually packed up and relocated to Greenville, South Carolina. She worshipped with her oldest daughter at Bibleway Full Gospel Baptist Church, sharing her praise dance gift, and the usher's ministry.

She was determined to maintain her independence and moved into Brookwood Senior Apartments and became active, preparing and serving the homeless. She enjoyed the fact she could walk to the post office, downtown, and just being in the city vibes was her freedom. After settling into her new apartment, she attended and later joined Mountain View Baptist Church and immediately began to work. She met with Pastor Stacey Mills and before you could blink an eye, she was a member of the Food Bank Ministry, Pastor's Aide Ministry, Women's Ministry, Praise Dance Ministry, and the Culinary Ministry. When her health and eyesight began to fail and after a short stay in the hospital and a few days in rehabilitation, she decided she wanted to remain at NHC of Greer as a resident, where she joined the facilities Resident Council, Resident of the Month, praise dancing and exercising to maintain her figure. She soon became a little homesick and with the support of her children in Ohio, she returned to her hometown of Cleveland. To spend her latter days with the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

On Saturday, September 16, 2023, surrounded by her loving and caring family, she heard the Glory Train moving through Cuyahoga County and quickly stepped on board. She leaves to cherish the love she gave and shared, two sons, Lloyd DeWitt Haddon of Cleveland, Ohio, and Duane Marc (Eugenia) Thomas of District Heights, Maryland; four daughters, Talitha A. Thomas, CFSP CFSGM of Greenville, South Carolina, Pastor Julia A. (Pastor Robert) Allen, Brenda Alesia Haddon both of Richmond Heights, Ohio, and Charlynn Renee Parker of Beachwood, Ohio; one son-in-law, Daryl Morris; eighteen grandchildren; forty-eight great grandchildren, four great-great grandchildren a host of other relatives, and friends.

Celebration of her life and legacy was held 2pm Sunday, September 23, 2023 at the Thomas G. Smith Funeral Home, in Cleveland, Ohio. The family received friends prior to the service from 10:00am -1:45pm