Carolynn Elise Conway Coleman

Carolynn Elise Conway Coleman, age 95, died on May 12, 2025. Born in Little Rock on March 2, 1930, daughter of the late Claibourne Watkins Conway and the late Mildred Hollis Conway, she was a descendant of many pioneer Arkansas families, including the Conway, Curran, Fulton, Sevier, Watkins, Hollis, and Taliaferro families. She was the great granddaughter of the first governor of the State of Arkansas, James Sevier Conway, and the great-great-granddaughter of Arkansas's last Territorial Governor and first U. S. Senator, William Savin Fulton.

She attended Little Rock High School, Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, and the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She earned a BA Degree at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in 1978, and an AAS Degree at Parsons School of Design in New York City in 1988.

Carolynn had her own interior design business and was a mixed-media artist for most of her life. She and her beloved husband, Buddy, traveled to countless destinations overseas and domestic. She enjoyed playing tennis, walking, jogging, aerobics, and gardening. She was a people person and made friends wherever she went. Above all, she treasured time spent with family and friends, and she will be sorely missed.

At Randolph-Macon she was initiated into Chi Omega Fraternity and continued to be very involved for 76 years. During her 42 years of membership with The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in Arkansas, Carolynn served many positions, including President for 4 years. For over 60 years she served on the Board of Mount Holly Cemetery Association and was a former President. Other organizations she belonged to include The Country Club of Little Rock, the Historic Arkansas Museum, the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, the Aesthetic Club of Little Rock, and the Scattered Seeds Garden Club.

Carolynn was a faithful member of St. Mark’s Episcopal Church for over 60 years, where she served many volunteer positions including singing in the choir and Vestry service at age 92. Several years ago, she painted the 14 Stations of the Cross and donated them to St. Mark’s, where they are hung every year in the church during Lent.

She was predeceased by her husband Walter C. “Buddy” Coleman, Jr.; her son James Travis Crews, Jr.; her daughter Carolynn Elise Crews; her first husband and father of her four children, Dr. James Travis Crews; her parents (named above); her sisters, Alice Ann Conway Papan and Hollis Conway Kennedy; her brother-in-law James N. Kennedy, Jr.; her stepson Bob C. Coleman and his wife Beverly; all of Little Rock.

Survivors include daughter and son-in-law Angelynn Conway Crews Hardcastle and Mike Hardcastle of Little Rock; son Claibourne Curran Crews of Little Rock; daughter-of-the-heart Becky Lentz of Austin, Texas; special niece Leslee Conway Brown of Fayetteville; granddaughter Dr. Claire Elise Crews Gililland and her husband Dylan of Bentonville, Arkansas; grandson Nicholas James Hardcastle of Little Rock; granddaughter Rebecca Elise Hardcastle and her partner Sean Connelly of Little Rock; granddaughter Amanda Nicole Crews Osterman and her husband Tyler of Siloam Springs, Arkansas; her stepson Walter C. Coleman III and his wife Cynthia; her stepson Charles T. Coleman and his wife Patti; her stepson H.S. “Cherb” Coleman and his wife, Connie; 7 step-grandchildren; 12 step-great-grandchildren; and numerous dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

The family deeply appreciates the wonderful staffs of Shawnda’s Elderly Care, Presbyterian Village, CHI St. Vincent Infirmary, and Arkansas Hospice for taking such loving care of Carolynn. And especially James Fitzgerald for his many years of devoted support.

The funeral service will be at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church on Thursday, May 22 nd at 1:00, with the Reverend Barkley Thompson officiating. The interment of ashes will be scheduled on a later date at Mount Holly Cemetery. 

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Mark’s Episcopal Church or Mount Holly Cemetery Association.

Arrangements by Arkansas Cremation, 10515 W Markham St, Suite B1, Little Rock, Arkansas 72205.If you would like to leave a message of condolence to the family, you may do so using the Guestbook section.

www.arkansascremation.com