I am holding in my hand a handsome black and orange pen inscribed with the words, "Carol Q's Eights." All around the Community Room at Robin Run, dozens of folks, gathered at festive tables, hold the same pens. What is happening? Is someone being feted? Stay Tuned.
The honoree was Carol Q. Cosby and the words, "Carol Q's Eights" are tributes to her 80th birthday which was celebrated on August 8 or "08/08," when she was surrounded by a host of family and friends. That special day, now over a year past, paid tribute to a woman who has had a remarkable career of achievement and service to others.
A native of Ohio, Carol attended Bowling Green State University, where she majored in speech and drama. While a student there, she appeared - for an hour - on an early telecast of "The Price is Right." After graduation, she married her high school sweetheart, with whom, over 27 years, she reared two daughters, one born on Christmas Day and the other on New Year's Day. Her husband attended Yale Divinity School, and they teamed to serve several Disciples churches in Ohio.
Carol's own career involved a variety of ministries with and for women, such as the Office of Disciples Women. There, for 15 years, she resourced four Quadrennial Assemblies, led Mother-to- Mother programs, and joined with ecumenical partners like the National Council of Churches and Church World Service, where she worked with sexual and domestic violence programs and women's equality and justice causes that took her to Central America, China, and Scotland. Carol also taught in several Ohio colleges, including The College of Wooster. At Allisonville Christian Church (ACC), Carol served two terms as Elder. Our folks were especially blessed by Carol's denominational resourcing of the Disciples Peace Fellowship, so familiar are we at ACC with the annual visits of these gifted young people.
Carol is an author, having published Courageous Peacemakers, which sold nationally. She writes poetry and has contributed poems and meditations to several anthologies. She loves music and has sung with a number of church choirs. Retiring in 2003, Carol volunteered in many service organizations and spent 13 years as an elementary school tutor. At Robin Run, Carol leads our Book Club and chairs our Employee Scholarship Fund which enables our staff to attend college and widen their skills. She loves to "EmCee" our Village Chimers, which she does with great humor and flair.
Her family, now scattered, is central to Carol's heart. Her daughters have adopted children, two from Guatemala and one from India. They orchestrated her "Carol's Eights" event. Not present, except in spirit, was her Mother, for whom Carol arranged a Goodyear Blimp ride, a bucket list dream, on her 90th birthday! No doubt, more "Eights" can be found around Carol's distinguished career of service to others.
But what does the “Q” stand for?
