Carol Gail Osman Brown, 78, passed away on March 6, 2020. Carol graduated from ASU. She and her husband, Bing, were longtime residents of Phoenix and then Payson AZ where they both were intricately involved in the journalism community. An award-winning journalist, Carol was a strong advocate of children's literacy programs. Her long-term leadership involvement with Arizona Press Women (now Arizona Professional Writers) allowed her to spearhead the very successful annual Payson Book Festival featuring Arizona authors from throughout the state and is held in July in Payson, AZ. Proceeds support a variety of children's literacy programs. During her career, Carol drew public attention to other causes including historic preservation, education, health, Native American and women's issues.

Carol wrote for The Phoenix Gazette and Arizona Republic newspapers and taught journalism classes at ASU and Rio Salado College. Her articles and photographs have appeared in numerous publications including Arizona Highways, Native Peoples, and Sunset magazines as well as publications of the United States Information Agency. She also worked for Associated Press and United Press International wire services.

She received a variety of awards throughout her 50-year career from organizations including the National Federation of Press Women, The Arizona Newspapers Association, the Public Relations Society of America, and Women in Communications. Carol and Bing formed Carrington Communications LLC and worked as a team on writing projects that took them throughout the United States, China, Mexico, Costa Rica, Africa, Australia, Europe and Canada. They were active on the Beaver Valley Water District board and the Arizona Association of Professional Writers.

Carol was preceded in death by her husband, James Carrington Brown III (Bing), in 2019. Carol and Bing are survived by their two sons, a grandson and extended family. Due to the current Coronavirus (COVID-19), a Celebrations of Life will be held in Beaver Valley, AZ (Payson) and in Phoenix at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Payson Book Festival, Inc. or the charity of your choice. (Source: Arizona Republic)