Carolyn Humphreys Shearer

Ethel Carolyn Humphreys Shearer, 83, died peacefully on January 5, 2026, in the presence of her family at The Arbor in Ridgeland, Mississippi. Carolyn was born on November 15, 1942, on the family farm in Jefferson County, Mississippi, the third of six children of Annie B and Carlie S. Humphreys. In The 1958 UVHS Memories yearbook, Carolyn, only a 10th grader, was named the Most Intellectual Student, the Best Girl Athlete, and one of three Campus Beauties at United Vocational High School in Red Lick. Those honors were also tempered by humility, however, as there were only about 40 students in Red Lick School.

Nevertheless, Carolyn was truly beautiful, a great (and tall) basketball player, of quick intelligence, who was devoted to her friends, and a friend to everyone. And she wanted to meet everyone, and to travel everywhere, starting with out of Jefferson County. Yet she always returned home to her family and friends.

Carolyn moved to Jackson soon after her May 1960 graduation from the newly consolidated Jefferson (County) High School. She studied at Jackson Commercial College, then went to work in the insurance business. In late 1961, Carolyn met Kenneth Brown Shearer, a young businessman and United States Marine Corps reservist. Despite reports that Ken's USMC unit would be called up in reaction to the Cuban Missile Crisis, Carolyn married Ken on February 2, 1963, at Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson. Carolyn and Ken were members of Calvary for 40 years, before transferring to First Baptist Church, where they attended services as long as they were able.

Carolyn and Ken had two sons, Christopher Dale and Michael Humphreys, before Carolyn was 22 years of age, and, a sensible time later, they had their third son, William Kirk. Carolyn was a devoted and energetic wife, mother, homemaker, and grandmother, who was there for her family at every event and for every eventuality, and knew them better than they knew themselves.

Indeed, Carolyn was a fierce and fearless advocate for Ken and their boys, sometimes even against themselves. Her husband was inducted into the Southern Miss M-Club (athletic) Hall of Fame. He opened his acceptance speech, "I don't know why I'm up here. I don't deserve this." Carolyn immediately jumped to her feet at their table in the elegant ballroom, among the other distinguished guests in their formal best, and shouted, "Yes you do!" A school principal called Carolyn to a meeting about the possible suspension of one of her sons, who had "smarted off" when he was cut from a school sports team. The proposed suspension was forgotten soon after Carolyn forcefully advanced an alternate proposal: a formal investigation into the indefensible favoritism long shown by the coaches. Another son could not get into the biggest basketball game in Southern Miss history, although he had a ticket, because officials had declared Reed Green Coliseum too crowded. Carolyn came out of the arena, found her son, and gave him her place inside, enraging hundreds of already angry, nearly riotous fans who had also been denied entrance. In response to their outraged protests, Carolyn turned to the crowd, stunning them into silence. "How dare you! I'm his mother. . . . Where's your mother?"

Carolyn was preceded in death by Ken, her husband of nearly 59 years; her son, Michael; her parents, Annie B and Carlie; her brother, Carlie Wayne Humphreys and his wife Jean; and her sister, Myrna Fay Humphreys. Carolyn is survived by her sisters, Barbara Young and her husband Calvin of Jefferson County, Pat Smith and her husband Mike of Brookhaven, and Jean Brown and her husband Burnie of Lorman; by her sons, Dale and his wife Janet (Saul) of Ridgeland, and Kirk and his wife Mai (Thuy) of San Jose, California; by her grandchildren, Mary Kate Shearer of Chattanooga, Samuel D. Shearer of Pittsburgh, and Amelia Grace Shearer of San Jose; by her step-grandchildren Jay Lindsey of Ridgeland, and Eric Tom and Bruce Tom of San Jose; and by many nieces, nephews, cousins and other family members.

There will be a visitation for family and friends on Sunday, January 11, 2026, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. at Parkway Funeral Home, 1161 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, Mississippi 39157. A graveside service will be conducted by the Rev. Gil Powell on Monday, January 12, 2026, beginning at 1:00 p.m., at Parkway Memorial Cemetery.

In memory of Carolyn Shearer, the family suggests that gifts be made to the MIND Center, University Medical Center, Jackson. Memorial gifts may also be made to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection Curatorship Endowment (2506), University Libraries, The USM Foundation, Hattiesburg. The family would like to thank the staff of The Orchard in Ridgeland for their care of Carolyn these last years.