Carolyn Ann (Coffield) Mends, 66, of Warrensburg, passed away Thursday, July 13, 2017, at her home with family.

She was born January 3, 1951, in Hobbs, New Mexico, the daughter of Bernice and Johnnie H. Coffield Jr.

On January 27, 1973, she and Albion Mends Jr. were united in marriage in Portales, New Mexico. He survives the home.  He is originally from Ghana, West Africa and came to the US on a track and academic scholarship.  They moved to Warrensburg, Missouri in 1974.  In 1975 she was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and survived breast cancer diagnosis 1996, but she refused to let it define her life or impact her gift of giving and service.

She was an impactful academic advisor at Central Missouri State University (now UCM) for 22 years serving thousands of students in this role and student organization advisor or co-advisor with her husband. Serving the Association of Black Collegiates, Harambee, and Sisters of Ujima (an organization she founded, created); she also served on various committees and assisted with University initiatives.  She believed that students mattered and were important and was loyal to her office and the work.  She received numerous accolades, awards, and honors for her work in student affairs and engagement.

Carolyn and Albion raised two amazing women who have given them four fantastic grandchildren. Family was an important part of Carolyn's life, managing to assist various members at all times and provide avenues for family to come from Ghana, West Africa and other parts of the world to be reunited in Warrensburg with her husband and move-on in life to various places in the United States.

Carolyn was also an accomplished and award-winning artist with work displayed, sold and distributed world-wide. She often stated her talent was a natural gift from God enlarged by academic study.  She always sang the praises of the Lord and gave glory to Him who bountifully and abundantly blessed her. She was quoted once as saying, "I don't like to be stereotyped to any one field of art, I love it all."   She was a versatile and extremely talented artist.  She received both her bachelor's degree in art and a master's degree in secondary education from Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, N.M.  In addition, she worked as a counselor and art teacher with the Eastern New Mexico University Upward Bound Project and served as a summer missionary to Bronx, New York sponsored by the Southern Baptist Convention.

Carolyn is survived by two daughters, Effuah Sam and husband Fredrick of Charlotte, North Carolina, and Ekuwah Moses and husband, Isaac of Las Vegas, Nevada; a sister Kathy Foreman in Texas, and a sister Janine Austin in New Mexico; four grandchildren Kweku and Nana Moses of Las Vegas, and Alistair-Asher and Anayah Sam of Charlotte; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews in England, Germany, Missouri, Ohio, Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, and Washington.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, parents, and her sister Bridgett Nasibi.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, July 22, at First Baptist Church with Pastor Billy Foster officiating. Interment will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery.  Pallbearers will be David Lartey, J.K. Buaku, Martin Cobbinah, Edwin Jackson-Kuofie, Dennis Doyle, and Dr. Musa Ilu.  Honorary pallbearers include Samuel Foreman Jr., Emmanuel Idun, and Jackie Harmon.   The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Williams Funeral Chapel in Warrensburg.  Attendees are encouraged to wear vibrant colors reflective of how she viewed the world.

She was an active member of First Baptist Church in Warrensburg prior to her declining health. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions are suggested to the "What's In Your Hand Productions" a non-profit organization of ministry she established with her husband, 501 C (3) org. ; P.O. Box 624, Warrensburg, MO 64093.  The mission they sought together was to inform, educate and entertain, while building bridges of understanding and respect between cultural groups, which will continue. http://wiyh.snappages.com/home.htm

Online condolences may be left at www.williamsfuneralchapel.net