Carol Drefke Obituary

Carol L. Black Drefke, 89, or Mauldin, SC died on January 31, 2026 at the McCall Hospice House in Simpsonville after a short illness.

Born October 24, 1936 in Kalamazoo, MI, she was the daughter of the late Dennis Black and Vivian C. Mason Black.

Carol spent her early years in Parchment, MI until moving in her teens to a home hand-built by her father on Crooked Lake in Delton, MI. She graduated in 1953 from Delton-Kellogg High School where she was a Drum Majorette.

Throughout her life, she was an active member of the Eastern Star, holding the positions of Ada and Organist.

Organ music was her true passion and she played for weddings, funerals, local events and churches including her church, Ninth Street United Methodist in Three Rivers, MI. If anyone needed an organist, Carol was there. This passion also led her to open her own music / organ store in Three Rivers called CV Music Box with her dear friend, Vera Young.

Carol held several positions throughout her life including telephone operator, bank teller, and librarian, but her favorite was her role as Mother and Grandmother.

Left to cherish her memory are her three children, Jonathan W. Fulton of White Pigeon, MI, Gregory M. Fulton of Knoxville, TN, and Melanie L. Oswalt (Martin) of Mauldin, SC; eight grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great granddaughter.

A celebration of life will ne held at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to your local PBS station of which Carol was an avid watcher; the St. Joseph's Indian School to which she was a contributor; or to your local library.

Friends are encouraged to share their favorite memories of Carol with the family by clicking on the button labeled "Share A Memory".