09/20/19
Carolyn Sue Williams Caldwell, 61, of Center, Texas, passed away on September 18, 2019 in Center. She was born on November 22, 1957 in Center to Clark Paul Williams and Emma Irene Fancher Williams. Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Mangum Funeral Home with Bro. Son Windham officiating. Interment will follow at White Rock Cemetery.
A visitation will be held prior to the service from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM on Saturday, September 21, 2019 at Mangum Funeral Home.
As a youngster, Carolyn grew up with her nieces and nephews, but we were really more like sisters and brothers because of the close-knit lives that we lived. During the day, we would play hopscotch by drawing designs on the dirt with a stick and stringing up a rope from tree to tree to flip and swing or what you might call “old school gymnastics!” We would run and play hide and seek outside at night and would hide under the house with no thought of snakes, spiders or any other varmint. They were probably more scared of us than we were of them. Carolyn and I enjoyed going to the old chicken house and playing in 50’s model old cars that were parked there. They had no more life in them but for us kids, they opened a whole new playing field for our imaginations. Carolyn would love for us to take our bikes to the top of Grigsby Hill and ride down to Mamaw’s drive but usually we were going too fast to make the driveway and would have to go all the way down to the bottom of the hill and turn around and of course—do it again! There was a cut across through the woods between Carolyn’s house and Thomas’s house. We would always catch the horse and riding bareback see just how fast we could run from her house to Thomas’s or stop by the pond and catch crawfish with bacon and a string. Cane pole fishing, stringing popcorn, sweeping the dirt yard, and watching our hot breath float in the cold air when we got under the heavy quilt covers at night, catching fireflies and drinking tomato soup from a mug. These are some of the fond memories that I have of growing up with Carolyn and there are many more.
Carolyn and the rest of us loved to dance. Mamaw would love to clap and encourage us to dance ‘til we dropped. Dancing to songs like Ernest Tubb’s “Walkin’ the Floor Over You,” Roger Miller’s “King of The Road” and “Dang Me,” and of course Hank Williams’ “Hey Good Lookin” as well as shake rattle and roll songs where we would dance until our sides were hurting. Cuttin’ a rug came natural seemed like-- we were so innocent and free as kids.
As Carolyn got old enough for marriage and babies, she had resolved to the idea that she could never have children. But in years to come and much water gone under many bridges, she was blessed with two handsome boys, Joseph and Doc. I came across the following poem that I think she would love for them to accept as a love letter to them.
You are loved
for the boys you were
the men you have become
and the precious son
you will always be to me
Love,
Moma
Carolyn is survived by:
Sons:
Joseph Caldwell and wife, Shelby of Center
William “Doc” Caldwell and wife, Amber of Center
Brother:
Clark Paul Williams, Jr. and wife, Tina of Center
Sisters:
Shirley Berg of Center
Edwena Higginbotham of Warner Robins, Georgia
Venorah McSwain of Center
Sister-in-Law:
Norie Williams of Center
Grandchildren:
Dallas Caldwell
Charlie Ann Caldwell
Adalynn Caldwell
Cory Moore
Colton Gilchrist
Caden Gilchrist
Corbin Caldwell
Soon-to-be-born Axton Caldwell
She is preceded in death by her husband, Dallas Wade Caldwell; parents, Clark Paul and Emma Williams; brother, Thomas Williams; brothers-in-law, Jack Wilson Berg, Van Higginbotham and JC McSwain.
Pallbearers will be John Kevin Cosby, Marty Fenley, Kirk Battles, Matt Wimpee, Ronald Chandler and Ronnie Davis.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lamarcus “Twin” Tate, Wailan Hughes, Chris Battles, Margarito Palacios, Tony Palacios and Jerry Deason.
The family requests that memorial donations be made to White Rock Cemetery, 604 CR 1210, Center, Texas 75935.
The family is being served by Mangum Funeral Home in Center. To send condolences or to sign an online register, please visit www.mangumfh.net.
