French's passing a true loss

By: Contributed | Orange County Review
Published: May 07, 2009

To the editor,
It was with great dismay that I opened the paper, and saw that we had lost an iconic figure in our community. It also brought home once again how we should be ever cognizant of our mortality, and that when you're thinking of calling your friend, or whatever, you should just do it. Tomorrow may be too late.
For weeks, I was going to call Carolyn French, but I was always busy, and kept putting it off–whatever.
Mrs. French was admired and liked by everybody I ever saw her come in contact with. I have never heard anyone speak of her, or to her, with anything less than the utmost respect.
She had deep roots, both black and white, in Barboursville, with a proud heritage spanning almost three centuries. She had been residing at her family's ancestral home in Barboursville up until the time of her passing.
Mrs. French was active in numerous pursuits of merit, including her involvement in, and her role in founding the Orange County African-American Historical Society. She was also involved in local efforts to help protect the rural character of our community.
Anyone not fortunate enough to have known Carolyn French had a hole in their lives which they never even knew existed. She will be sorely missed by those of us who were fortunate enough to have known this great and gracious lady. And she was a true lady.
Lucy Colby
Barboursville