Carolyn W. Giles

 Carolyn Stricklin Washam Giles was born in Winston-Salem, NC to parents; John North Washam Sr. and Lera Sticklin Washam. At age 6 she was moved to parsons, TN to be raised by her maternal grandparents, Harold & Lois White as a result of her parents divorcing.

She was a student at Parsons Schools grades one through twelve and graduated from Parsons High School in 1957. She then entered the University of Tennessee at Martin. She graduated from UCT Martin in 1961 with a bachelor’s degree in secondary education. She was later hired by Decatur County Schools as a high school teacher at Riverside High School. In 1979 she received her master’s degree from the University of Memphis majoring in Secondary Guidance and Counseling. She was then hired as the high school Guidance Counselor. After only 20 years, she retired early due to sickness from many surgeries.  

In 1973, she married Joel O. Giles who became a CPA in public practice. In 2009 he passed away of heart disease at age 71. They had no children. After his death and the selling of their large house, she eventually moved to Greencrest Assisted Living in Parsons and losing the ability to drive due to muscular degeneration in the one eye she had left. She had lost her left eye years earlier due to an infection. Decatur County had been her home since age six.

She is survived by her brother, Richard (Sherry) Washam of NC, special second Cousin, Bridget Dhuey of CA, special friends, Darla & Jeff Horner along with their children Brant Horner and Brock Horner.

She is preceded in death by her mother, Lera L. Stricklin Washam, father, John N. Washam, grandparents, Harold & Lois White, husband, Joel O. Giles, brother, William W. Washam, sister in law, Margie Washam.

A visitation for Mrs. Giles will begin on Sunday March 16, 2025, at 12:30PM at Parsons First United Methodist Church with funeral services to follow at 3:00PM there at the church. She will be buried next to her loving husband Joel O. Giles in Parsons Cemetery.

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