Carole Cumbie Headrick

Our passionate, vibrant, one of a kind mom, Virginia Carole Cumbie Headrick, is absent from the body and present with the Lord. Carole was born in Hope, Arkansas on January 2, 1935 to James Terrell and Catherine Woff Cumbie. She left us October 23, 2023, forty four years to the day her beloved mother passed away. Carole was the first grandchild born on both sides of the family and it showed, she was doted on by her beloved grandparents, her beautiful aunts and her wonderful uncles. She loved every moment spent with them and they were some of the happiest memories of her life--especially listening to her aunts harmonize as they sang old hymns. Mom was a hero at the tender age of 6 when the house caught fire she rescued her infant brother and carried him to safety. They lost everything they owned and mom carried the scar on her arm for life. Carole attended high school at Bolton in Alexandria, La where she met our father, Elmore Glen Headrick. They went on two blind dates a year apart, they never parted after that second date and married in New Orleans in 1952. According to mom the pastor looked at them afterwards and remarked, "I guess they'll raise each other". Carole was devoted to Glen, he enlisted in the Army just before they married. They lived in Lawton, Oklahoma when daddy was stationed at Ft Sill, then moved to Shreveport, Lousiana when he left active military service. Mom supported dad's career choices and his continued military service when he was in the Army Reserves. Her proudest moments were pinning on his Lieutenant bars and his Eagle when he became a Colonel. Whenever she talked about going to work our dad told her "I'll make a living, you make it WORTH living". She made it worth living for daddy for 54 years. They raised four children together, David Knight, Gail Lynn, Paul Brian and Susan Carole.

Our mom never met a stranger, the term must have been coined for her. When you met her she would keep you engaged in conversation until she found something in common to discuss. Afterwards she would track you down with a newspaper clipping, coupon, magazine article or book pertaining to it. Mom loved music and laughter, her sarcastic wit was unforgettable. Mom was very proud of her Southern Heritage, her favorite movie of all time was Gone With The Wind, she was a steel magnolia in the fullest sense. She loved her family fiercely and deeply, she was generous, if you admired something of hers she would most likely give it to you. Mom was an avid reader and an excellent bridge player. She was a passionate LSU Tiger football fan for the entirety of her life-our home reverberated with loud screaming every time LSU scored a touchdown. She loved traveling and camping with our dad, especially out west where she would watch him fly fish along every beautiful river they could find. Her most memorable camping trip with dad was to Alaska where they flew on a small plane with a bush pilot to Denali and stood on a glacier together.

Mom survived many life threatening illnesses over the years, she took a licking and kept on ticking--from cancer in 1990, a stroke in 2013 and West Nile Virus in 2014. Her recent illness stacked on top of the others was too much to recover from, she will never have to do battle with her health again. Her survivor skills were remarkable.

We will miss mom's infectious laughter, sarcasm and wit--we might even miss her outrage when we didn't follow her instructions on how to behave or live life--or if we dared to vote for a different candidate. Mom taught us from a very young age that death was a part of life, but that doesn't make it any easier to say farewell. We love you mom and are so very thankful for the love and care you showed us. We find peace in knowing mom is with our dad again and will suffer no more sorrow or pain. She was a firm believer in Christ and wanted everyone to know and experience His precious love.

Our family would like to extend sincere gratitude to Dr. Khanh Nguyen for the compassionate care he showed mom over the years and the guidance he gave us as we went through her most recent illness.

Carole was preceded in death by many beloved family members: her husband, Glen, her parents JT and Catherine Cumbie, her daughter Gail Headrick, her son, Paul Headrick and her grandson Daniel Reiter. She leaves behind her son, David Headrick and her daughter Susan Reiter (Paul). Carole is survived by many grandchildren and great grandchildren, among them her grandsons Brent Reiter (Claire), Mitchell Reiter and Blake Reiter, and five great granddaughters . In lieu of flowers mom requested donations be made to Star of Hope Mission, MD Anderson, or the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

A visitation for Carole will be held Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at Kingwood Funeral Home, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, TX 77339. A funeral service will occur Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM, 22800 Highway 59 North, Kingwood, TX 77339. A committal service will occur Wednesday, November 1, 2023 from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM at Houston National Cemetery, 10410 Veterans Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77038.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.kingwoodfuneralhome.com for the Headrick family.