Cumberland, Maryland - Carolyn Billett Press, 88, of Cumberland, passed away at home on Jan. 19, 2024, with her husband of 61 years, David, by her side.

Born in Elmhurst, Ill., Carolyn was the daughter of the late George E. and Helen (Hoskins) Billett. A 1953 graduate of York Community High School, Elmhurst, Ill., Carolyn went on to receive her B.A. from Carleton College in 1957 and an M.A. from Tulane University in 1958, where she was one of the founders of the Tulane Drama Review (now The Drama Review).

After graduating from Tulane, Carolyn taught English and Theatre at the University of Chicago Laboratory School and at the Morgan Park Academy. She was active in the Chicago arts community in the late 1950's and early 1960's, managing and launching the careers of Columbia recording artists, Roy Inman and Ira Rogers. She stage managed at the Court Theatre, and was friends with author Studs Terkell, and musicians Josh White, Willie Dixon, and Erwin Helfer.

After moving to Cumberland in 1968, Carolyn was active with the Allegany Festival Theatre and the Allegany Festival of the Arts. She served on the boards of many local organizations, including the Cumberland YMCA, Archway Station, Inc., the Blue Barn Theatre, and the Allegany Arts Council. She led Jimmy Carter's 1976 primary campaign in Allegany County, and unsuccessfully ran for school board in 1974. In 1980, she was appointed to lead the 1980 census in Western Maryland.

Carolyn had wanted to go to law school, but her father (a well-known lawyer who argued before the U.S. Supreme Court) told her, not entirely inaccurately at the time, that "women can't be lawyers." That dream never died, so once her children had finished high school, she went to law school, receiving her J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law and joining the Maryland Bar in 1989. She practiced law in Cumberland from then until 2012, when Alzheimers forced her to retire, first with the Law Offices of W. Bryan Hall, and then with her son Daniel's firm, Chung & Press, P.C., where she represented countless local residents, primarily in family law and social security matters.

In addition to her parents, Carolyn was preceded in death by her sister, Marion Billett Johnson; and daughter-in-law, Alexis Wesolowsky Press.

In addition to her husband, Carolyn is survived by her three beloved children, Daniel M. Press, of Cumberland and Vienna, Va.; Steven R. Press and wife, Elisa of Bellaire, Texas, and Cynthia E. Press of Bethesda; 5 grandchildren, Benjamin Press of Vienna, Va.; Elizabeth Press of New York, N.Y.; Eric Press and David B. Press, of Bellaire, Texas, and Olivia Press of Bethesda; and her sister, Helen Jane Warren, of State College, Pa.

At Carolyn's request, her body is being donated to the Maryland Anatomy Board to be used for medical research or teaching.

Friends will be received at the Upchurch Funeral Home, P.A., Cumberland, on Wednesday, Jan. 24, 2024, from 6 to 7 p.m. A memorial service will follow, at 7 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Alzheimers Association (www.alz.org), the Allegany Law Foundation (www.alleganylaw.com); or the Women's Health Center of Maryland (www.womenshealthmd.org).