Carolyn Cockrill Pugh
Carolyn Cockrill Pugh, passed away September 11, 2017 in her sleep at her residence in Ridgeland, Mississippi. A celebration of her life will be held this Sunday, September 17th at The Episcopal Church of the Nativity in Greenwood MS. Visitation will begin at 2:30 p.m. and the service starts at 3:30 p.m. Greenwood Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. The family would like to invite those attending for refreshments after the service, at the home of Susie and Jim Tackett.
Carolyn was born in Little Rock, Arkansas on November 18th, 1936 to Rebecca Driver Cockrill and Judge James Mitchell Cockrill. She attended high school at Central High School in Little Rock, then continued her education at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville where she was a member of Chi Omega sorority. She met George L. Pugh of Portland, Ark. while at school and was married in 1957. They lived in Portland, Arkansas, raised three children, and later divorced.
Carolyn was a full time mother and was very active in her community. She helped start the Portland Riding Club, participated in local archeological digs, established the town Christmas tree tradition and donated her time to help with other civic projects. Her fascination with airplanes led her to take flying lessons and she soloed when she was expecting her third child, Leyden, in 1966. She went on to become an instrument rated pilot and started her own charter business, Air Fare. In 1972, Carolyn participated in the all female pilot race, The Powder Puff Derby which was a cross country competition from New Jersey to California. She was designated an Aviation Safety Counselor by the FAA in 1974.
In 1981, Carolyn graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Journalism. She remained in Fayetteville after graduation and was Vice President at Creative Processes Ad Agency, was a Rotarian and a member of Saint Paul's Episcopal Church. She worked as a freelance writer and published articles in the Gazette and the Arkansas Democrat papers.
Carolyn bought property and began building a lake house in Garfield, Ark., on Beaver Lake near Eureka Springs. She split her time between being a fraternity House Mother in Fayetteville while overseeing the construction of her home. She became a House Mother for the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and a few years later went on to do the same at Kappa Sigma. Once her home was finished, she spent all of her time there due to an accident that affected her mobility. There she had four dogs, two goats a chicken coup and became a master gardener. She had wonderful friends and was a member of the Saint James Episcopal Church in Eureka Springs.
Due to an additional injury, in 2012, Carolyn decided to move back to Fayetteville, however, her time there would be short lived. She moved to Greenwood, Mississippi in 2013 to be near her daughter Susie due to her failing health. She became a member of the Episcopal Church of the Nativity, enjoyed gardening and was active in the Four Seasons Garden Club. Carolyn celebrated her 80th birthday with a big party in November 2016 with firiends and family. Due to her health, she made another decision to move to Jackson, Miss. in February of 2017. She was a resident at The Blake assisted living community at the time of her death.
Carolyn was, as many would say, a "character". She said what she felt like, did what she wanted and was known for her colorful, sometimes racy jokes. She had a sharp tongue and a sweet heart. You never had to guess at what she might be thinking! She slowed down with age, but loved reading, gardening, her dogs and watching The Charlie Rose Show.
She is survived by her three children, Rebecca N. Pugh and her husband Dean Jabs of Bethesda, Md., Susan Pugh Tackett (Jim)t of Greenwood, Miss., George Leyden Pugh Jr. (Jan) of Lake Village, Ark., her brother, Dr. James Mitchell Cockrill of Fayetteville, Ark., her sister, Becky Cockrill Rotenberry of Alexander, Ark. and 10 grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, donation may be made to: The Humane Society of Leflore County, 601 Lone Street, Greenwood, Miss. 38930, The Humane Society of the Ozarks, 1020 One Mile Road, Fayetteville, Ark. 72704 or a charity of your choice. An online guestbook may be signed at www.greenwoodmsfuneralhome.com.
Published September 14, 2017