Carolyn Elkin
Posted: January 26, 2021
Carolyn Sissell Elkin of Columbus, MS, died on January 22, 2021, at the age of 93. She was born to Myra Miller and Kenneth Ray Sissell in Water Valley, MS on February 24, 1927. Mrs. Elkin is survived by her daughters, Gayle (Chuck) Gatton of Inverness, FL and Becky (Jeff) Sweeney of Nashville, TN; grandchildren, Amy (Louis) Sharp and Laura (Ryan) Newman; great-grandchildren, Lores Sharp, Lucy Sharp, Laura Lea Sharp, Audrey Grace Newman and Liza Newman. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse M Elkin. Carolyn graduated from Water Valley High School in 1944, and from the University of Mississippi in 1948. While at Ole Miss, Carolyn was a member of the Phi Mu Fraternity. After moving to Columbus in 1950, with her husband, Jesse, Carolyn taught public school music in the Columbus School District and worked as a bookkeeper for their business, The Jesse Elkin Insurance Agency. Active in the First United Methodist Church of Columbus, Carolyn was a member of the Lewis Fellowship Sunday School class, UMW Circle #5, the UMW Trinity Circle, the sanctuary choir, and played the piano for children’s Sunday school classes and choirs, as well as the Keenagers Group. Carolyn also served her community as a life- long member of the Columbus Junior Auxiliary and was a member of the Town and Country Garden Club. She served as pianist for the Kiwanis and Rotary Clubs of Columbus. Carolyn and Jesse were founding members of the Magnolia Tennis Club where she was an avid tennis player. She individually and together with various doubles partners participated in and won many local and state-level tournaments. She achieved two number one rankings in doubles tennis in the state of Mississippi. She continued to play league tennis until she was 80 years old. In addition to tennis, her other passion was music. She loved to be seated at the piano with friends and family gathered around her singing familiar tunes and hymns. She freely shared her gift of music at Trinity Personal Care, where she resided. Donations in Carolyn’s memory may be made to Trinity Healthcare Center-Sunday Fund, 230 Airline Road, Columbus, MS or Sanctuary Hospice House, 5159 West Main Street, Tupelo, MS 38801, or to the Jesse M and Carolyn S Elkin Memorial Endowed Scholarship Fund UM Foundation, 406 University Ave, Oxford, MS 38655.