Carolyn Bailey Banger was born February 25, 1945 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina to the late Almeda Naomi Bailey.  She attended the Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools and was a 1963 graduate of Carver High School.  She later attended McLean Business School where she received a degree in clerical/secretarial work. While attending school, Ms. Banger worked for R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and upon graduation, she started a new career at Pilot Freight Trucking Company. After a decade of service, she moved to Washington, DC to work for the University of the District of Columbia.

Ms. Banger eventually relocated back to Winston-Salem and started her own business as a cosmetologist. She also worked as a clerical administrator at the NAACP with Patrick Hairston and the American Red Cross as a facilitator of blood drives. Later, she worked for the city of Winston- Salem until her retirement.

Carolyn was raised in church where her grandfather Rev. Jonas Elijah Bailey was the pastor and loved to sing for the Lord. After the passing of her grandfather she and her son became members of New Jerusalem Baptist Church under Pastor Samuel J. Cornelius where she sang on the senior choir and was a member of Songs For Christ Community Choral Choir (directed by Rudolph Sullivan). She sang every day until her departure!

In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by aunts, Geraldine Sims, Elizabeth McGruder and Christine Geter; and an uncle, Lorenzo Bailey.

Ms. Banger departed this life Monday June 19, 2023.

She is survived by her son, Neil Deon(Jamillah) Stewart, Jr.; grandchildren, Leila Stewart, Amare Stewart, and Ashalina Stewart; aunt, Velmar Faison; a host of other cousins, relatives and friends.

A memorial service will be held 2:30 pm Saturday July 1, 2023 in the chapel of Hooper Funeral Home. The family will receive friends from 2pm-2:30pm Saturday at the funeral home.