Resident of the Month

Wildcat Senior Living is honored to feature Ms. Carolyn Christmas as our December Resident Spotlight. Since joining our community, Ms. Christmas has made a swift, meaningful, and lasting impression on residents and staff alike. Her warm spirit, thoughtful nature, and commitment to enriching the lives of those around her have quickly become part of the heartbeat of Wildcat.
One of Ms. Christmas’s treasured contributions is her dedication to beautifying our shared spaces. Shortly after making Wildcat her home, she took it upon herself to create a stunning flower garden beside the clubhouse- designing, planting, and nurturing it entirely by hand. In recognition of her generosity and the joy her garden brings to our community, the space has been officially named the “Wildcat Garden.” A sign proudly displayed reads:
“Wildcat’s Garden: Plantings by the Benevolence and Generosity of Mrs. Christmas.”
This heartfelt tribute serves as a lasting reminder of the kindness and community spirit she has brought to Wildcat Senior Living. She has also been a cheerful steward of our community recycling efforts, helping to keep Wildcat beautiful and environmentally conscientious.
Ms. Christmas’s story begins in the scenic Shenandoah Valley of Virginia near Waynesboro, where she attended local schools and graduated from high school. She went on to pursue higher education at Madison College—now James Madison University—before transferring to Richmond Professional Institute (today Virginia Commonwealth University), where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design.
In 1987, she met and married her husband, Edward “Ed” Christmas, and together they built a life rooted in adventure, service, and family. After settling in Waynesboro while Ed worked for the DuPont Company, the couple embarked on an international chapter when Ed was transferred to Singapore in 1991. Their son Michael attended the Singapore American School, completing his last two years of high school abroad.
In 1995, the family returned to the United States and moved to North Carolina. They built a home in Graham in 2003, just before beginning one of the most meaningful experiences of their lives: partnering with the Amity Foundation, a Christian organization supporting English teachers in China. Beginning in 2004, they spent eight summers working alongside middle school educators. Their commitment deepened in 2011 when SiHong Middle School invited Ed to teach English pronunciation. The school provided a furnished apartment where the couple lived for two months in the spring and two months in the fall for five wonderful years. They completed their service in 2016, having formed lifelong friendships and cherished memories.
After Ed’s passing in 2018, Ms. Christmas moved to Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where she enjoyed coastal living. Her family continued to grow—her son Michael married Claire in 2014, adding three step-grandchildren, and later welcomed great-grandchildren as well. When Michael and his family relocated to Summerville, Ms. Christmas chose to follow, desiring to be close to those she loves most.
Today, Ms. Christmas continues to cultivate beauty, connection, and kindness here at Wildcat Senior Living. Whether tending to the Wildcat Garden, supporting recycling efforts, or making new friendships with grace and joy, she enriches our community every day—and we are deeply grateful to spotlight her this month.