Carolyn Vaughan Parham, 80, of Clinton, Mississippi, passed away November 27, 2023, at Baptist Hospital in Jackson, MS, after tenaciously fighting cancer #2 to a draw. Carolyn had soundly defeated cancer #1 in 1985 after an eight-year slugfest.

Carolyn was raised in Hatley, MS, graduating from Hatley High in 1961 before attending Mississippi University for Women for her bachelor's degree. She started her career as a primary school teacher with friends from the W in Pensacola, FL. After her return to Hatley, she married Hugh Riley Parham on June 8, 1968. The couple moved to Jackson, MS, in 1970 for employment, and later to Clinton, MS, in 1978 for more room for their 2 boys and their endless parade of pets. She never met a stranger, and was loved by all who knew her. In turn, Carolyn loved family, neighbors, church, laughing, prayer, forgiveness, CBS soaps, miniature dachshunds, Red Hat, puzzles, crosswords, Sunday school, 2nd graders, the grands, tailgating and Mississippi State baseball and football. After they retired in 1998, the couple traveled widely, for weeks at a time, camping in 49 of the 50 states they visited. Though always ready for a trip, she never stopped worrying about those back home, calling in daily for reports.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, George Lewis "Buck" Vaughan and Laverne Smith Vaughan of Hatley, MS.  She is survived by her husband, Hugh Riley Parham, sons Jason Jay Parham (wife, Shannon Matijevich Parham) of Clinton, MS, Blake Vaughan Parham (wife, Laurel Brannon Parham) of Tuscaloosa, AL, and grandchildren Luke Vaughan Parham and Riley Morrow Parham of Clinton, MS, and Poppy Eloise Parham of Tuscaloosa, AL.  She is also survived by her sister, Linda Kay Farrar (husband, Stanley) of Hatley, MS, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A celebration of Carolyn's life will be held on Thursday, December 21st, at 1PM with visitation beginning at 12PM at Northside Baptist Church in Clinton, MS. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the American Cancer Society.