Carolyn Garner Yeilding, 90, of Florence, passed away peacefully at home Jan 9, 2014 with her loving family gathered at her bedside. Visitation will be Jan 11 at Greenview Funeral Home 6-9 pm. Her memorial service is 2 pm Sunday Jan 12 at North Wood United Methodist Church with viewing from 1-2 pm. Rev Steve Reding will officiate.
Raised in Florence, she graduated from St Thomas School of Nursing in 1945. She was happily married 48 years to William E. “Bill” Yeilding who passed away in 1994. They were already blessed with five children, Ed, Nancy, Gay, Jean, and Jack, when in 1969, Bill’s sister Rae Brown, her husband Orville and daughter Janet were tragically killed in an auto accident. Carolyn and Bill took in Era, Charlie, Lila, and Laura Brown, ages 10 to 16, and loved them as their own. John Brown was in college at the time, and Keith and James Brown went to live with David and Shirley Brown of Tuscumbia. Bill and Carolyn provided a wonderful, loving, happy Christian home. Carolyn was caring, gentle, and well organized. She loved to work hard, to laugh, and had amazing inner strength based on her strong faith. She loved her large family, her friends, and helping others. She earned BS and MS degrees from Florence State in the early 1970s, was librarian at Underwood School, and teacher at Central. She was an active member of North Wood UMC for 57 years and enjoyed Community Bible Study. She loved to cook, sew, read, travel, do various artwork, crossword puzzles, and family camping trips. She was precious and sweet, and during her years of failing health, she was pure joy to care for. She will always be greatly missed.
She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Katherine Garner, husband William Yeilding, brother Brinkley Garner, and niece Laura Brown.
She is survived by sons Ed Yeilding, John Yeilding (Elle); daughters Nancy Bailey (Chuck), Donna Gay Underwood (Keith), Jean Batson (Adin); nieces Lila Gates, Era Hall (Wayne); nephews Charlie Brown (Mary), Ed Garner (Anita), Jon Garner (Elizabeth), Lowell Garner (Julie), John Brown (Barbara), Keith Brown (Beverly), James Brown (Anjie); grandchildren Lynn Hall, Jennifer Wharton (Compton), Connie Isbell (Shane), Leah Batson, Julie Carter (Derek), Stephanie Batson, Daniel and Devin Yeilding; step-grandchildren Kevin Underwood (Kira), Michelle Underwood; sister-in-law Tracyne Garner; and a host of great grandchildren, great nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers are Ed and Jack Yeilding, John and Charlie Brown, Ed and Jon Garner. The family thanks Dr Randy Pounders for his care and WICP for adding joy to her final year. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to North Wood UMC, 1129 Wills Ave, Florence 35630, or WICP, 300 Industry St, Suite 100, Florence 35630.
