Carolyn Warrena Schum

Carolyn Schum, a beloved mother, loving friend, gifted writer and passionate advocate passed away on February 9, 2025 at the age of 89. She lived a life defined by compassion, intellect and a commitment to making the world a better place.

Born in Dallas on March 8, 1935, Carolyn graduated from Parkland High School in 1952 as the Salutatorian and winner of the National Honor Society Outstanding Senior Award. She proudly graduated from Southern Methodist University (SMU) in 1956 on a full scholarship, where she met her future husband, Dave, on her first day of college. They married in 1956. While stationed at Ellington Air Force Base, Carolyn taught English at both Milby and Stephen F. Austin high schools. They later moved to California and then to Topeka, Kansas, where Carolyn taught Linda Carol Brown of Brown vs Topeka, an historic Supreme Court case on segregation. In 1959, Carolyn returned to SMU to obtain her MA in English before moving to Columbus, Ohio to teach high school English and Comparative Literature.

Carolyn gave birth to their only child, Brian, on December 16, 1965. After graduating from Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Brian made Carolyn smile, and so very proud, every time he sent her audio of the beautiful music he had created for her.

Carolyn worked for Baylor College of Medicine for 44 years, meticulously editing medical research papers and offering guidance as a confidant and mentor to residents and fellows in both the OBGYN and Urology departments. Carolyn often went above and beyond in everything she accomplished. For example, she would meet with residents and fellows around her dining room table for hours every few weeks to help them write their research papers, paying particular attention to correcting their grammar.

Deeply engaged in her community and politics, Carolyn served as Acting Mayor of Bellaire, Texas from December 1977 until May 1978, and as a Bellaire City Council member in 1977, after spearheading recall efforts.

Carolyn nurtured with wisdom and led with kindness. She had a way of making everyone feel heard and valued. She will be profoundly missed by all who knew her. Her impact will live on in the stories about her international travels and experiences, the lives she touched, and the change she inspired.