A longtime Greene County educator and school system supporter died after a car wreck north of Snow Hill last week.
Carolyn Rouse Newcomb, 76, a grandmother of two, died Feb. 27 at ECU Health Medical Center in Greenville from injuries suffered the day prior, according to. 1st Sgt. G.S. Hemby of the State Highway Patrol in Wilson.
Hemby said the agency responded to a three-vehicle wreck on U.S. 13 near Newell Road about 2:48 p.m. Feb. 26. He said the wreck occurred after the driver of an eastbound Ford F-150 attempted to avoid a rear-end collision with a vehicle stopping in front of them.
The truck entered the westbound lanes and struck Newcomb’s Toyota Camry head-on. Newcomb was transported to the hospital.
An eastbound Mercury Grand Marquis also rear-ended the pickup truck. The driver of that vehicle was transported to UNC Health Lenoir with non-life-threatening injuries, Hemby said. The driver of the Ford declined treatment.
Charges are pending in the incident which is still under investigation.
Newcomb’s obituary said she grew up on a farm in Maury and was a graduate of Greene Central High School and East Carolina University, from where she ultimately obtained a master’s degree in library science.
She taught at the Walstonburg School and served as a librarian and worked in other capacities at Snow Hill Primary School. Her career in public education spanned 50 years.
“Carolyn believed in education and its ability to change a person’s life; she never forsook her devotion to helping someone learn and gain knowledge,” her obituary said.
She remained involved in education and was active with Greene Early College, where she had been a tutorial coordinator. She routinely provided news releases about activities at the school to The Standard newspaper and other media outlets.
“On Tuesday, Greene Early College High School lost a school advocate, school leader, mentor, and, most importantly, a friend,” a statement on the school’s Facebook page said. “Ms. Newcomb was an integral part of our school community, and her dedication and kindness touched the lives of everyone she interacted with. She dedicated years to GEC with the goal that all people had the opportunity to become the best, most successful version of themselves. She truly loved and believed in each of us. Even on our most challenging days, we could feel confident that Ms. Newcomb had our backs.”
A funeral service was held for Newcomb on Sunday. In addition to her grandchildren, she was survived by her son. The family asked for donations to go to the Carolyn R. Newcomb Memorial Scholarship Fund, Snow Hill Presbyterian Church, c/o Bobby Glossip-Treasurer, 201 Hines St., Snow Hill, NC 28580.
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