Born to Dorothy Yvonne (Parker) and Herbert Watts on August 10th, 1954. Carolyn attended Plummer Elementary and Sousa Junior High School in the District of Columbia during her formative years. Carolyn displayed exceptional artistic talent in her youth. Carolyn’s passion for drawing paper dolls and their fashions engrossed her in hours of creativity which she never outgrew as an adolescent and young adult. Years later, she blessed her niece with a personal collection of unique and fashionable paper dolls all her very own. The family moved to Lanham, a suburb of Maryland in the late 1960’s where Carolyn entered senior high school. In 1971, she graduated from DuVal High School’s Glendale, Maryland campus. “Go Tigers”!!!

Carolyn’s artistic nature and fascination with color continued to develop. She became captivated with make-up artistry in addition to fashion, so much so she journeyed to New York City to live and work as a make-up artist. Carolyn kept a sketch book with her at all times, it was a constant outlet for her thoughts, ideas and creativity. Perhaps it was the time spent in New York City that congealed her decision to return to Maryland and pursue an art degree.

In 1981, Carolyn enrolled in the University of Maryland, College Park. Carolyn excelled in art studies which not only fined tuned her natural artistic talent but enhanced her commitment to both visual and performance art. She studied other artistic elements including dance, sculpture and liberal arts. She was engrossed in study of the Holocaust, early British monarchy, religion, anthropology (the history of human kind) and ancient civilizations. Though she studied works created by many artists, she openly admired those done by Georgia O’Keefe and Picasso whose abstract works Carolyn appreciated and understood. Carolyn made the Dean’s list by maintaining a 4.0 grade point average throughout all her years at the University of Maryland, College Park. Through Carolyn’s diligence, she paid her way through school. Working on campus she took various jobs including as a cook in the student dining hall kitchen. Just prior to graduation, Carolyn was recognized by faculty and peers when the School of Art organized a showing of her art work in the University’s Art Gallery. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1985. Upon completing her bachelor of art degree, Carolyn struck out on her own and continued painting, here marks the birth of her collection which includes the body of work she continued creating until her death in 2010.

Carolyn would spend most of her post graduate years working as a makeup artist. She was one of the first sales persons, promoting the first line of cosmetics created for women of color by “Barbara Walden”. Carolyn’s excellent salesmanship led too many awards which led to sales and a management position in women’s shoes. Carolyn was the best at what she did, earning many awards as the top seller in the women’s shoe department of Woodward & Lothrop, The Hecht Company and Macy’s.  All the while, painting continued to be her passion. Carolyn’s artistic creations would speak for her, she wanted to share them with the world. Like many artists, Carolyn was not one to socialize, though many of her co-workers thought fondly and kindly of her. Carolyn’s art was her solace, her comforter, and her children as she never married or experienced child birth.

Throughout her adolescence, young adulthood and adult years Carolyn suffered episodes of depression. While on the campus of the University of Maryland in College Park, she sought treatment however as she aged, Carolyn’s episodes of depression deepened. Around the end of October, 2010 Carolyn’s depression became overwhelming to the extent she took her life. The family was notified on November 8th and immediately began speculating as to whether signs of her deepened depression had been overlooked or ignored; the family wondered if “we” had not respond appropriately; what should we have done differently?

Upon Carolyn’s death, the family discovered over 170 canvasses of original and stunning artwork. The first segments of these works are called the “Carolyn Anne Collection.” She spent many years creating these beautiful works of abstract, brilliantly painted creations in stunning acrylic colors. To honor her, The Carolyn Anne Foundation Inc. (CAF) has been established. Founded December of 2013 by her sister, Cheryl Maxwell, the Foundation works to present and promote her artwork to the public. Carolyn legacy as a gifted artist, highly motivated intellectual and educator will be promoted through the foundation’s educational forums, symposiums and program activities.

Within our generation, society’s lack of understanding and response to mental health disorders has taken a devastating toll in terms of lost individual productivity and quality of life. In retrospect, as children we were preoccupied every day regarding abnormalities of my own experience and that of family members. Emotional scars are unseen because they are internal and not visible. The Carolyn Anne Foundation is dedicated to advocating on behalf of children, after all how does a child convey their hurt or that their wounded and need intervention to family, community or society?

The Carolyn Anne Foundation has been established to educate individuals, parents, family members/relatives, community and religious leaders, mental health professionals and policy makers concerning children’s mental health well-being through workshops, forums, and activities. Our goal is to raise consciousness; CAF works to formulate approaches that are trauma informed and to promote early mental health assessment, intervention, treatment and/or care.