Carol T. Rigdon

Born June 9, 1935, Carol grew up in the Mount Zion community between Union and Decatur, Mississippi. She graduated salutatorian from Stratton High School in 1953 and went on to serve as editor of the Tom-Tom newspaper at East Central Junior College. She later earned her degree from the University of Southern Mississippi. She began her career teaching Home Economics at Collinsville High School and later worked at Pearl Lower School, sharing her love of creativity and homemaking with generations.

In 1952, Carol began dating Darwin “Da” Rigdon after knowing him throughout their school years. They became engaged in 1955, and she treasured the diamond he gave her for 67 ½ years until his passing in 2024. Together, they built a marriage filled with laughter, devotion, and love, raising a beautiful family that grew into five generations.

Carol’s life was centered on family. She delighted in being a stay-at-home mom and grandmother, taking joy in every stage of their lives—from her children born in the 1950s–1970s, to her grandchildren named from A to Z in the 1970s–2000s, to her great- grandchildren from the 1990s–2020s, and finally to her great-great-grandson in 2024. She was happiest when surrounded by her loved ones, celebrating milestones both big and small.

A gifted seamstress, Carol’s true passion was sewing. She created countless garments and gifts for family, friends, and customers, and for many years owned and operated Carol’s Fabrics & Gift Shop. She often said with a smile, “If I had a dollar for everything I’ve made, I’d be a rich lady.” She was an active member of Pearl Methodist Church for over 50 years, serving as both a Sunday and Bible school teacher and Golden Agers coordinator. In her later years, she especially loved working on sewing projects for her great-grandchildren with her daughter Pam, going shopping and watching game shows with her daughter Joy, and riding in the side-by-side with her son Tim.

Carol is survived by her daughters Pam (Mel) McLeod and Joy (Steve) Ming; son Tim Rigdon; grandchildren Ami (Jody) Davis, Ashlie (Dru) Garland, Joshua (Hannah) Ming, Cayman Rigdon, Whitney Rigdon, and Zane Rigdon; great-grandchildren Hunter (Brooke) Davis, Caden (Laney) Davis, Magazine Garland, Clementine Ming, and Emmett Ming; and great-great-grandson Hunter Briggs Davis.

She was preceded in death by her parents E. J. Terrell and Elvie P. Terrell, her brother David L. Terrell and her beloved husband Darwin “Da” Rigdon, and great-grandson Leif Ming.

Pallbearers will be Joshua Ming, Hunter Davis, Caden Davis, Cayman Rigdon, Zane Rigdon, and Trey Terrell. Honorary pallbearers are Emmett Ming and Hunter Briggs Davis.

Carol “Nana” Rigdon’s legacy is stitched into the fabric of the lives she touched—through her love, her wisdom, her handmade creations, and her family.

Visitation will be held from 4:00pm until 6:00pm, Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Baldwin-Lee Funeral Home in Pearl. Funeral services will follow at 6:00pm in the funeral home chapel. Mrs. Rigdon will be laid to rest with her husband, Darwin Rigdon, in the Mississippi Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Newton at 11:00am, Friday, August 15, 2025.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be sent to St Jude’s Children’s Hospital.