Carolyn Sue Friend

Carolyn Sue Friend, 64, of 184 Old Kile Lake Rd SE Cleveland, Tennessee passed from this life on September 17, 2021. She was the daughter of James W. Leslie Sr. and Bessie C. Leslie, both having preceded her in death. She was born in Salem, Indiana on September 11, 1957, the youngest of 6 siblings all having preceded her in death. She was married to Rodney W. Friend on July 2nd, 1983, in Madison Heights, Michigan, he also preceded her in death. To this ministry partnership and marriage of 36 years were born 2 children Daniel R. Friend of Cleveland Tennessee and Leslie C. Waye of Kettering, Ohio. She has 5 surviving grandchildren Jordan B. Stocksdale, Brandon M. Friend, Aaliyah M. Friend, Logan R. Allen, and Morgan E. Waye.

She graduated from Ferndale, Michigan HS (1976)

She worked as a nurse’s assistant before her marriage. She was a faithful ministry partner to her husband who was a credentialed minister in the Church of God (Cleveland, TN) denomination for 42 years and was a Church of God World Missionary for 16 years. As a missionary she served in Bucharest, Romania after the communist fall; Bushey Heath, England while her husband traveled as COG education coordinator for Western Europe and Middle East; European Theological Seminary in Germany; and Lusaka, Zambia. Lead Pastor’s Wife of 3 churches in ME, SD, and MI. She took additional courses on counseling to serve the congregations. She also worked in the library in both Germany and Zambia. After the loss of her husband she worked for 1 year at Legacy Village in Cleveland Tennessee as a receptionist and activities assistant.

She was a warm and caring people-person known world wide for her amazing hugs. She played the guitar and sang and often ministered to people through her music. She had many friends and was loved everywhere she went.

A homecoming celebration will be held at 12pm on Saturday September 25, 2021 in the Dixon Chapel of North Cleveland Church of God. Her family will receive friends from 10am until the 12pm service and she will be laid to rest following her service at Lee Cemetery. Bishop Stacey Johnson will be officiating.

In Lieu of flowers please consider donating to Church of God World Missions PO Box 8016 Cleveland, Tennessee 37323

You are invited to share a personal memory of Carolyn or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral & Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the Friend family with these arrangements.