Carolyn McCall McFarland

Carolyn grew up in New Orleans and attended Isidore Newman School and Louise S. McGehee School before enrolling at Newcomb College of Tulane University. While at Tulane, she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and met her future husband, Charles McFarland, a Tulane Deke. They shared 64 years of marriage. Carolyn was known for her Southern belle accent, quick wit, and fun-loving disposition.

Carolyn and Charles spent many cherished summers in Pass Christian, Mississippi, and eventually retired there, enjoying an active social life with friends at the Pass Christian Yacht Club.

Carolyn had a gift for blending refinement with comfort, as though good taste was simply an extension of her kindness. Her dinner club gatherings—often hosting fourteen or more—were marked by her impeccable attention to detail and extraordinary cooking. Family favorites included pot de crème, creamed spinach, and roast beef. She appreciated fine things in life—the glow of old wood, a well-kept home, fine art, and beautifully arranged flowers—but never allowed them to define her. Manners came naturally to Carolyn, not from formality, but from a deep and genuine thoughtfulness for others.

She carried herself with grace, yet it was her generosity that will be remembered most. For all her knowledge of etiquette, she remained deeply grounded, known for rescuing stray animals and sitting on the floor to shower any pet with affection.

Carolyn is survived by her two children, Marian McGavran and Charlotte McFarland (Mark Dufour) and her grandchildren, Garrett McGavran and Julia McGavran.

She was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Charles McFarland, and her parents, Harry Elmer McCall and Estelle Desmare McCall.

The family extends heartfelt gratitude to all of Carolyn’s loving caregivers.

Carolyn will be remembered for her grace, warmth, generosity, and the love she shared so freely with family, friends, and all who were fortunate enough to know her.

Relatives and friends are invited to attend a memorial service on Friday, March 6, 2026, at Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home, 5100 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA. Visitation will be held from 11 AM – 1 PM with a memorial Mass to begin at 1 PM.