The following statement was issued by Mayor Charlie Carley as he asked that flags be flown at half-staff to honor the memory of former Mayor Carolyn McCallum:
South Brunswick has lost a trailblazer and a dedicated public servant with the passing of former Mayor Carolyn McCallum. As the township’s first female mayor, she paved the way for future generations of women in local government with grace, intelligence, and commitment to the community she loved for over six decades.
Mayor McCallum’s public life was defined by service. Before taking the gavel as Mayor in 1978, she served on the South Brunswick Board of Education in the 1960s, championing the needs of students and families during an era of growth for the township.
Beyond her political legacy, Mayor McCallum was a cherished educator. An English teacher and librarian, she understood the power of stories. She meticulously collected news clippings and photographs, preserving South Brunswick’s past for its future; much of her collection now resides in the Public Library’s history room, a lasting gift to our town.
Mayor McCallum once said of South Brunswick, "I have such a commitment to this town. I love it." That love of this place and its people informed the decisions she made and the lessons she taught. She leaves behind a town that is better, stronger, and more connected because of her life’s work.
We extend our deepest condolences to her family and loved ones."
- Mayor Charlie Carley
