Callie Ruth Goggans Frederick Carter realized the promises of her faith and met her Creator and loved ones gone before on Tuesday afternoon, Dec. 27, 2022 at NMMC in Tupelo after a brief period of declining health. She was 80. Born in the Palmetto Community to the late Herman Goggans and Susie Mae Smith Goggan, she grew up in Palmetto Community, attended Palmetto Schools and graduated from Shannon High School in 1960. She married Marlin Frederick in 1961 and was his beloved wife until his death in 2006. She married Thomas Carter in October, 2011 and he survives. Callie Ruth was a mainstay as Deputy Assessor in the Lee County Tax Assessor’s Office for 35 years working primarily under the late Bilbo McCullough and the late Karrie Weathers. She was beloved by patrons of this office and left a legacy of kind, caring and devoted public service. A beautiful lady who always dressed to the 9’s, Callie Ruth loved her family, her extended family and all whom she met.
Firm, independent and self confident, she lived a life of service to others. A longtime member of the Pontocola Baptist Church, enjoyed working in her yard especially tending her roses, birdwatching and reading every book she could.
Callie Ruth is survived by her husband, Thomas Carter; 2 daughters, Ava McMullen and Tonya Scott (Jeff) all of pontocola; 5 Grandchildren, Ashley Williams (Richard of Old Union), Kayla Phillips (Blake) of Pontocola, Drue Bruff (Leandra) of Mantachie, Cari Scott and John Marlin Scott of Pontocola: 7 great grandchildren, Nealy, JR, Colby, Brody, Nate, Kendall and Fletcher; numerous nieces and nephews and their families and a host of friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband and the children’s father, Marlin, her daughter, Cindy Drummond, a granddaughter, Charlie Scott and all her siblings, Anna Sue McVay, Ottis, Ferrell and Marling Goggans.
A service celebrating her life will take place at 3:30 PM Friday, December 30, 2022 in the Sadie Holland Memorial Chapel at Holland Funeral Directors-Tupelo with Bro. Tommy Kelly and Bro Mark Cayson officiating. Private burial will take place in the Goggans family plot at Palmetto Cemetery. Visitation will be from 4pm-6pm today (Thurs) and from 2:30-service time on Friday all at the funeral home. For those unable to attend, the service may be viewed at www.hollandfuneraldirectors.com/livestreaming.
Pallbearers are Richard Williams, JR Williams, Colby Stidham, John Marlin Scott, Jo Brown and Ken McVay. Honorary pallbearers are Roger and David Goggans and Donnie Homan.
Memorials may be made to Tupelo-Lee Human Shelter, P. O. Box 2143, Tupelo, MS. 38802 or to LeBonheur Children’s Hospital, P. O. Box 41817, Memphis, Tn. 38174. Condolences may be e mailed to hollandfuneraldirectors@comcast.net
