Carolyn June Ward Davis

Carolyn was born April 1, 1941 to Bernard Vanada and Tennie Lillian Johnson Ward in Bemis, Tennessee. She graduated from South Side High School (Class of 1959). She received a B.S. in Chemistry from Lambuth College and a M.Ed. from Memphis State University.

In 1962, Carolyn married Ronald Lewis Davis, her high school and college sweetheart and became the proud mother of Malea Davis Mullins and Marianna Lynn (Thomas O'Neal) Forsythe. Ron preceded her in death in May of 2015 after 54 years of marriage. Carolyn's grandchildren are Katharine Hope Mullins, Jackson, TN, Thomas O'Neal (Trae) Forsythe III and wife Amanda Borah Forsythe of Murfreesboro, TN, and SPEC Justin Patrick Mullins and wife Anna Fowler Mullins, stationed with the US Army at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Her great-grandchildren are Charles (Charlie) Patrick Mullins of Fort Sill, Oklahoma and Travis Michael Forsythe of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. She also leaves her sister-in-law, Lois Ward of Huntingdon, TN; niece, Katharine Ward (Brent) Bullock; nephews, John Eric Ward (Susan) and Grant Hammons Ward (Mary Anne). 



During the Vietnam era, Carolyn supported Ron in his service in the United States Navy. They served at 6 different duty stations in California and Virginia and endured 5 long deployments. After 10 years of active duty, they returned to Jackson, Tennessee. Carolyn finished her degrees and began teaching at South Side Junior High. After 5 years, she was moved to South Side High School where she taught Chemistry, Physics, and math classes ranging from Geometry through Calculus. In her later years at South Side, she taught the supercomputing class in association with Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She was co-leader of the first Young Life Club at South Side High School. For almost thirty years, she served in a variety of roles at West Jackson Baptist Church, but most recently was the teacher of the Legacy BFT.

Graveside services led by Rev. Lonnie Sanders will be held December 19, 2018 at 10 a.m. at Woodlawn Cemetery, Enville, TN. 

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be directed to: RIFA (Regional Inter-Faith Association) 133 Airways Blvd., Jackson, TN 38301.