September 28, 1949 – February 1, 2020

 East Cleveland Citizen Activist

Carolyn McClain Cockfield’s community spirit was part of her DNA. She came from a line of a heritage of civic activism that extended at least to her maternal grandfather, who was cousin to John O. Holly and involved in the renowned Future Outlook League. Her father, who later changed his name to Harambee El Medamfo, was affiliated with the Nation of Islam.

Her ancestors would surely have smiled when Carolyn published one of the first books on Kwanzaa, My Kwanzaa Book, in the mid-1980s.

Carolyn was born September 28, 1949, in Cleveland and attended Robert Fulton Elementary and Alexander Hamilton Jr Hi schools. She was a member of the first class to graduate from John F. Kennedy High School in June 1967. She then worked for a year before enrolling at Howard University.

Just before heading off to college, Carolyn met Ross Cockfield at a party. As fate would have it, he gave her and a friend a ride home. He secured her phone number that night, prelude to a relationship that culminated in her marriage to Ross in 1972. In later years they always debated whether he asked for the number or she volunteered it.

Carolyn’s love of children led her to major in early childhood education. Financial strains kept her from finishing at Howard; she left in 1971 at the end of her junior year to return to Cleveland to help her mother.

A year later she and Ross married. They moved into East Cleveland into an apartment on Elberon Ave., excited about the prospects of the suburb’s being a model for African Americans exhibiting self-rule during the racially charged era.

A year after they were married, they were blessed with their first child, Kianna Yanee. Two years later their second child Zahra Akosua arrived, and finally, four years after that their third child Touré Henry was born.

Carolyn’s early employment years were spent as a teacher and director of daycare centers. She also became Education Coordinator for the AIDS Coalition Network, traveling to Zimbabwe, Botswana, and South Africa to assist with AIDS education. It was during this period in her life that she and some of her friends formed the “Sista Circle” as a support and outreach organization to assist young African American women.

Carolyn became politically active in the late seventies, running twice for a seat on East Cleveland’s city council but losing each time. During these runs for office, she established herself as a no-nonsense champion of doing the right thing.

Carolyn was subsequently appointed the city’s Director of Parks and Recreation, where she created a legacy of achievement in tackling the East Cleveland’s long-neglected parks system. She led the revival of Pattison Park, cleaned up infrequently used public spaces, secured grant funding via the State Wildlife Department, and worked to stock the Forest Hills Park pond for seasonal fishing. Additionally, she assisted the summer baseball league to make sure the baseball diamonds were properly maintained and worked to bring activities back to the parks for public enjoyment. Her work reflected her belief that residents of East Cleveland deserved recreational facilities and services comparable to its neighbors.

In 2004, during her tenure as director, Carolyn suffered a stroke, forcing her retirement from public service. She subsequently devoted her time to maintaining her house and becoming a staunch advocate of maintaining her street, Roxbury Rd, and the surrounding community. It was not uncommon to see her anywhere on the street picking up litter. She demanded respect from the children in the area and had no problem reprimanding them for improper language or dress.

Survivors include her husband of 47 years, Ross Cockfield; their three children, Kianna Baskerville [Rajahn], Zahra Cockfield, and Touré Cockfield; a grandson, Kaden Cockfield; her great aunt Betty, and a host of cousins, close friends, and neighbors.

Preceding her in death were her parents, her sister Latisha Miller and a grandson, Miles Golden Cockfield.

The funeral service was held last Saturday, February 8 at Cummings and Davis Funeral Home in East Cleveland.