Carl Seldon Downing

Carl Seldon Downing died on Monday, August 15, 2016 at the Poydras Home in New Orleans after a long illness. He was the son of the late Carl E. Downing and Edna Southall Downing and is also preceded in death by his sister, Patricia Armstead Downing. Mr. Downing was born in Memphis, TN and raised in his beloved hometown of Oxford, MS. He was a dedicated and enthusiastic Boy Scout, ultimately achieving recognition as both an Eagle Scout and member of the Order of the Arrow. After graduating from University High School in Oxford, Mr. Downing attended the University of Mississippi Engineering School on a Navy ROTC scholarship where he earned a B.S. degree and was named the Outstanding Civil Engineering Graduate of 1956. While an undergraduate, he was a proud member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity as well as a cheerleader for the Ole Miss Rebels. Following graduation, he served his country as a Naval Aviator and Legal Officer upon completion of Navy Justice School. It was while serving in the Navy that he met his loving wife, Lois Suter of Harrisonburg, VA. They were married in 1960. After completing his active duty service, Carl worked as an engineer for the Dupont Company before deciding to return to Ole Miss for law school. His legal education was interrupted after one year when he returned to the Navy to serve during the Cuban Missile Crisis. At the University of Mississippi Law School, Carl received a Juris Doctor Degree, graduating with distinction in 1963. He served on the Editorial Board and as Business Manager of the Mississippi Law Journal, and was a member of Omicron Delta Kappa. Following graduation, he and Lois moved to New Orleans to join what is now known as the Kullman Firm. For the next 40 years, he served many clients around the country by providing sound legal counsel on labor and employment matters while also serving the firm as Treasurer, President and ultimately Chairman of the Board. During that time he served on the boards of several non-profit organizations, including the Board of Trustees of the University of Mississippi Foundation, WYES-TV, Isidore Newman School and Trinity Episcopal School. He was also a member of the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church for over 50 years, and served the church on the Board of Deacons and later as an Elder. He was a member of the New Orleans Country Club, the New Orleans Lawn Tennis Club, the Stratford Club, the Pickwick Club and the Recess Club as well as several carnival organizations. Carl was an avid sportsman and enjoyed tennis, jogging, sailing and duck hunting. At age 56 he hiked the Continental Divide on an Outward Bound trip. Carl retired from the practice of law in 2003, and greatly enjoyed time spent with family and friends in Ocean Springs and Oxford, MS. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Lois Suter Downing, son Douglas Southall Downing and his wife Vaughn Carriere Downing, son Carl Andrew Downing and daughter Catherine Barrett Downing Rice and her husband Ronald Daren Rice Jr., in addition to six grandchildren, Michael Southall Downing, Andrew Woodward Downing, James Wilbourn Downing, Samuel Painter Rice, Elliott Armstead Rice and Catherine Lucas Rice. The family is grateful for the loving care given to Carl by George Tucker, the nurses and staff of Poydras Home and Notre Dame Hospice. A memorial service will be held at St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church on Friday August 26 at 3:00 p.m. followed by a reception for family and friends. Visitation will begin at the church at 1:00 p.m. Interment will occur after the service and will be private. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in honor of Mr. Downing to the St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church, the University of Mississippi Foundation or WYES-TV.