Busy Day For A Former Resident:

Caroline Stokes, Winthrop University Student For A Day

It was in 1938 that Caroline Johnston traveled south from New Jersey to start her college years at Winthrop College (now Winthrop University).

Her mother’s family was from South Carolina and her cousin had attended Winthrop College, so she wanted to attend a Southern school. Not surprising, she was one of only a few “damn Yankees” in her class. Four years later, in 1942, she graduated with a degree in psychology and headed back North.

Soon after, she earned her master’s degree in sociology at New York University and did social work with immigrants on the Lower East Side of New York City, before she married Robert Stokes in 1946 and moved to Newtown, her home for the next 64 years.

The former Newtown resident, who moved in 2010 to North Carolina to be closer to her family again, recently returned to school. For one day, at least.

As Caroline Stokes prepares for the 70th reunion for the Class of 1942 later this year, she had a wish come true when she participated in a program that had arranged for her to spent time back at the university while students were on campus. The event was arranged by Elmcroft, the senior living residence in Charlotte, N.C., where Caroline now resides.

Working with the Winthrop Alumnae Office, Elmcroft planned a special agenda for the Student For A Day. After leaving her college yearbook and scrapbook with the Alumnae Office and sharing many college stories, Caroline was given a tour of the campus in its Eagle 2 golf cart, past her old dormitories and classroom buildings.

She also enjoyed a lunch in the student cafeteria before sitting in on a sociology class.

There was also time to visit the university’s archives to view the rare book collection, given by her cousin, Eleanor Burts, who was four years ahead of her at Winthrop. Caroline stopped by the college bookstore, not to buy textbooks, but a college mug to remember her visit.

Caroline’s day ended with a small reception in her honor, hosted by the department heads for psychology and sociology. Plenty of pictures captured her day and many memories of being at college came back to share with all she met.

“Everyone was in awe that she could recall her college professors’ names and many events, such as Eleanor Roosevelt being at Winthrop,” said Bonnie Layton, one of Caroline’s daughters. “Male students were everywhere, unlike her college days when only some wartime servicemen took residence at the college.”