Carmen Headley

Carmen Edwina Howell Headley, age 96, went to meet the Lord on Sunday, September 28, 2014. Carmen, the second daughter of Lemuel Jasper Howell and Annie Hazel (Williams) Howell, was born November 15, 1917 in Double Springs, Alabama and grew up in the town of Reform, in Pickens County, where her father was a prominent and longtime educator. Carmen became a Christian at the age of 11. She graduated from Alabama College (now Montevallo University) with a B.S. in Home Economics, then earned an M.S. in Advanced Study at the University of Alabama. She served as a teacher in several Alabama communities as well as in other states, including: Newville, Citronelle, Winfield, Tuscaloosa County High (Northport) and Pickens County High School in Alabama, and Delta State Teachers College (now Delta State University) in Cleveland, Mississippi, and Palmetto High School in Florida. Carmen married Edgar (Ed) P. Headley, a high school band director originally from Pennsylvania, who taught at Pickens County High School in Reform. They lived in Reform for many years until his retirement, then moved to Fairhope in 1974 to be near her sister Mildred H. Beck and her husband Jim. She was a devoted wife to Ed until his death in Sept. 1984. Carmen was a member and Gold Sister of the Alabama Chi Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Society for Women Educators for more than 50 years. She worked with the Young Adults in church and the Women’s Missionary Union. She sang in the choir both at First Baptist Church in Reform and the First Baptist Church of Fairhope, where she was a longtime member. Carmen suffered a brain tumor in 1987 that left her paralyzed on one side and unable to walk. She remained cheerful, lively and gracious through the many years of suffering and disability she faced and maintained her steadfast love and devotion to Jesus Christ as her Savior. Carmen was preceded in death by her parents Lemuel Jasper Howell & Annie Hazel (Williams) Howell; her husband Edgar (Ed) Paul Headley; her sister Mildred H. Beck; her brother-in-law James M, Beck; and her longtime friend/caregiver Edna A. Keller. She is survived by her cousins: Marietta Cooper Bigler, Champaign, IL; Enis Howell Turner, Wetumpka, AL; Madelyn Carr (Don) Bonnett, Columbiana, AL; Bruce (Andrea) Williams, Riverview, MI; Amy (Drew) Williams-Johnson, Oakland, CA; as well as several other cousins throughout the U.S., and loving caregivers. Funeral services will be held from Wolfe-Bayview Funeral Home Chapel Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. Carmen will lie in state at the chapel from 1:00 p.m. until the service time. Interment will take place at Graham Memorial Cemetery in Reform, AL.               ARRANGEMENTS BY WOLFE-BAYVIEW FUNERAL HOMES & CREMATORY, INC. 19698 GREENO ROAD FAIRHOPE, AL 36532 (251)990-7775 www.wolfefuneralhomes.com