Carolyn Nell Ter Poorten

Carolyn Nell Ter Poorten, 73, of Mount Pleasant South Carolina passed away Saturday, March 18, 2017. Family and friends may join in remembrance of her life at the Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St., Charleston, SC, Saturday, April 1, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. A reception on site will follow in Lance Hall.

Carolyn was born April 9, 1943, in Houston Texas and grew up on a dairy farm in Addicks, Texas, just west of the city. She was the older of two daughters born to Oliver Higgins and Kathryne Moers Higgins, both of Addicks. Her sister, Bonnie, lives with her husband Dan Watkins in Austin Texas. Carolyn earned her BS degree in speech pathology at Baylor University and taught in that capacity at a public school in the Dallas area. In 1965 she married her college sweetheart Hein J Ter Poorten, M.D. who became a well-recognized and respected dermatologist in Richardson, Texas. They raised two children Jon and Laura. Hein unexpectedly succumbed to cancer in 1997 and shortly thereafter Carolyn left for France to paint for six months focusing on what had been a lifelong interest, talent and developing career as artist and art teacher.

In 2003, through her son Jon, who was then a resident in dermatology at MUSC she met Alan Johnson, PhD, a full time clinical faculty member in the Department Of Family Medicine. Their meeting was not only social, but of mind and heart, and on March 21, 2004 they were married in Circular Congregational Church. Her Christian witness led her to begin painting portraits of the homeless and ultimately resulted in a one-person show of over 20 portraits in the Charleston County Library. Before meeting Alan, Carolyn had completed a Masters of Theological Studies at the University of Dallas and this led to her being asked to serve as a chaplain at the shelter. In addition to painting she began a support group for women. Together, Carolyn and Alan weekly volunteered as reading buddies in a Charleston elementary school.

Carolyn is survived by her husband Alan Johnson, PhD of Mount Pleasant; son, Jon Ter Poorten, M.D. his wife Maryanna Ter Poorten-Coggins, M.D. and their two children James and Grace of Concord, NC; Laura Ter Poorten, licensed counselor, her husband Roger Thompson, PhD, rhetoric and writing professor and their son Ethan of Stony Brook, NY; stepchildren Anne, Ivan and Eric Johnson, their spouses and children - as well as many beloved cousins and friends.

Arrangements by J. HENRY STUHR, INC., MOUNT PLEASANT CHAPEL.