Carolyn Riley

Carolyn Louise Riley (nee: Fort) was born on March 6, 1939, in Nashville, Tennessee, to Louise “Babe” Fort (nee: Thornton) and Sterling Fort. When Carolyn was two, she and her sister Gwendolyn lost their father to tuberculosis. Her mother Babe would later marry Robert “Pops” Pillow, Sr., who lovingly raised the sisters as his own. From this union, Carolyn would ultimately become the eldest of 11 children.

Carolyn was a proud graduate of Pearl High and Tennessee A&I (now Tennessee State University), where she earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Education with a minor in Early Childhood Education. As a student activist, Carolyn participated in a civil rights march in downtown Nashville.

After college, Carolyn worked for Citizens Savings Bank and Otey’s Grocery Store, where she met Walter Riley, a medical student at Meharry Medical College. Six months after dating, they married on August 3, 1962, and started their family which grew to five children.

Carolyn cherished her church and community. She was a Girl Scout Troop Leader and an active participant in Corinthian Baptist Church’s Choir, the PTA, the VA Bowling League, Zonta International, Drake University Community Choir, The Old Ship of Zion Choir, and the Boulé with Walter. In 2000, she was the Democratic Nominee for the Iowa House of Representatives, District 73.

Carolyn was a strong supporter of the arts and education. She and Walter established The Walter J. Riley ‘64 and Carolyn Riley Family Endowed Scholarship at Meharry Medical College to support the matriculation of general medicine practitioners.

Carolyn loved different cultures. Her travels included trips to Europe, Japan, Israel, the Bahamas, and throughout the United States, with many Christmas holidays spent in Colorado. At her urging, Walter became the leader of Iowa Lutheran Hospital’s Winter Medical Conference in Hawaii for over 30 years. They called Hawaii heaven on earth.

Carolyn was most proud of her successful 52-year marriage to Walter and her children. She invested everything into making them successful. She was the office manager for Dr. Walter J. Riley, M.D., P.C., for more than 30 years and an extremely engaged mother, sister, and friend.

On August 22, 2025, Carolyn peacefully transitioned from this world. She leaves many loved ones who will continue to honor her memory until they meet again.