Carolyn Fairley, 93

July 13, 1930 – February 2, 2024

TUPELO – Nina “Carolyn” Lumbley Fairley went to her Heavenly Home on February 2, 2024, at Generations Assisted Living, Saltillo, MS. She was born July 13, 1930, to Martha Eula Poole Lumbley and Jethro (Jack) Lumbley, in Memphis, TN. Carolyn grew up in Memphis, graduating from Central High School and a Memphis business college. She was a secretary for almost all of her life, working for attorneys and the Auditor General, USAF, at Mallory AF Depot, resigning after she married and started her family.

She married Paul Vane Fairley, Jr., on June 5, 1954. They were blessed with three children. They lived in Memphis, TN; Thomasville, GA; Atlanta, GA; and in Tupelo, MS for over 60 years. She was a stay-at-home mom for over 15 years while her children were small. Later, she was a secretary at Rankin Elementary School and also a real estate sales associate with Jimmy Langley Realty for many years. In 1981, she was reinstated to her career civil service position and became the secretary of the Division of Interpretation, Natchez Trace Parkway Headquarters. She retired in 1994 as a 20 year career civil service employee from the National Park Service. She and Paul were married for over 66 years.

She became a Christian at an early age. She was baptized by Dr. R.G. Lee at Bellevue Baptist Church in Memphis, TN. She became a member of Harrisburg Baptist Church in 1960 and was active at Harrisburg until she could no longer physically attend. She was very fond of all her Sunday School class members and had many friends at Harrisburg. She loved nature; loved growing tomatoes and flowers and sharing with friends and neighbors. She also loved the many family pets over the years, especially her cats, Sugar and Kitkat, and the labs; Yanto, Honey, Tupelo Babe, Ms Belle, and Cocoa Boy.

She was a devoted Christian, loving wife, daughter, sister, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She cared very, very much for her family. She was the main caregiver for her beloved Mother, Eula Coats, for many years until her death at the age of 98+.

There will be a time of visitation only from 10 AM Saturday-11:30 AM at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo Chapel. The family has requested a private committal service. Holland Funeral Directors is honored to be serving their friends. (662 840 5000)

She leaves two loving sons: Buddy (Janna) Fairley and Bubba (Joy) Fairley; one loving daughter, Marty (Benton) Berryman. She leaves five special grandsons: Chris (Alana) Fairley, Jesse Berryman, Blake Berryman, Daniel Fairley, and Caleb (Kaylee) Fairley. She leaves one very special grand-daughter, Lauren (Lee) Burgess;six great-grandsons: Jase Burgess, Colby Burgess, Campbell Fairley, Kylo Fairley, Wilder Fairley, and KytanReece; and four great-grand-daughters: Emzie Lee Burgess, Penelope Robinson, Olivia Robinson, and Emersyn Fairley. She leaves twosisters-in-law: Nadine Fairley, and Lynda Fairley: special nieces and nephews: Matt(Tammy) Alan, Glenn(Susan) Altschuld, Frank(Sherry) Fairley, Drew(Heather) Fairley, Lee(Jeff) Wise, and Amanda(Richard) Conine.

She is pre-deceased by her loving and devoted husband, Paul V Fairley, Jr; her grandparents; her beloved mother, Eula Coats, and her step-father Wilbur Coats; her sister, Audrey(Glenn)Altschuld; her nephew, Victor Altschuld; two brothers-in-law: Lowell F. Fairley and James Fairley.

Memorials, in memory of Carolyn, may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tn. 30105. Condolences for the family may be left on Carolyn’s memorial page at hollandfuneraldirectors.com.

Please follow the funeral home link above for further information, or to send online condolences or memorial gifts.