Carol Frances McMahon, of Ardmore, was born on April 5, 1935, to George Ferrell and Madgie Shelton in Lawrenceburg, TN. On April 27, 2022, she reunited with her husband (Gene), three sons (Howard, Ricky and Billy), mommy and poppy, and a choir of brothers and sisters. She was 87 years old. Grandma is survived by three children, Gail Shelton of Ardmore, David and Kim McMahon of Ardmore, and Darwin and Mandie McMahan of Pass Christian, MS as well as a whole host of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Granny was a born storyteller. She was always happy to sit and chat over a pot (or three) of coffee and entertain anyone willing to listen with stories of growing up in a large family in Tennessee, traveling the country, marrying Gene (she never actually said yes), raising six stubborn children, or any of the countless global events she bore witness to. Even as her short-term memory began to fade in recent years, she could still tell you exactly how to get to her childhood home or what it was like meeting Elvis before he was famous (she was underwhelmed for those wondering).
She lived a long and full life. If you were lucky enough to have met her then you can attest to thatpartially because she never met a stranger. To know her was to be loved by her- and for better or worse- to know her meant always knowing exactly what she thought about you (just ask any referee or umpire who made a call she disagreed with at her kids or grandkids games). But on the off chance she didn’t tell you what she thought, she whispered it behind her hand to the person sitting next to her.
While never one to hold back, Grandma always found joy in the simple things: her faith, gardening, Sunday dinners, front porch sitting, watching Monday night wrestling, gospel singing, and road tripping to Red Sovine’s greatest hits. One of her truest joys though was decorating her house for Christmas- always needing to make it bright enough for her mom to see from Heaven. This basically meant installing an electrical box just to power up her Christmas lights. She was always so proud by the amount of joy her display brought to others: apparent in people slowing down to look, knocking on the door to compliment, anonymously leaving cash in the mailbox to cover the electric bill and the countless front-page pictures in the Daily Ardmoreite.
Of the things that brought her the most joy, and of that which she was proudest, was her family. She recently said “it may be funny, but I’m rich with family. The family I’ve got, is more than what rich men have. And not on account of money. It’s all what’s inside.” There are so many things about her that we will miss: her sass and her stories, her quick wit and quicker backhand, her generosity, kindness, and sometimes tough love. But we will most miss how fiercely she loved and adored each of us. She always taught us that, what we do for one- we do for all. Although it is hard to imagine a world without her in it, we know that the best of who she was, is the best of who we are. In that, we rejoice.
Graveside services will be held Saturday, April 30th at 10:00 a.m. at McAlister Cemetery. Visitation will be Friday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Craddock Funeral Home
Online condolences can be made at www.craddockfuneralhome.com
