Charlotte Shows Welborn, age 91, of Laurel passed away on May, 31, 2020. She was born in Ovett, Mississippi, on February 20, 1929, to Ethel Hunter and Otho Shows.
After graduating from Ellisville High School, Jones County Junior College, and University of Southern Mississippi, she worked for Mississippi Power Company as a home economist. In 1952, Charlotte married Ray Osborne Welborn. She and her sister, Frankie Shows Middleton, had a double wedding ceremony at Mount Olive Methodist Church in south Jones County. In 1953, Charlotte started her teaching career at Glade High School where she taught home economics for three years. After having children, she returned to Glade High School to continue her career. In 1962, she was transferred to the new South Jones High School in Ellisville, Mississippi, where she taught until her retirement. In 1971, she was selected as Teacher of the Year. She retired as an educator after 34 years of teaching.
Charlotte was a member of Laurel First United Methodist Church and a former member of Kingston United Methodist Church. She was active in the United Methodist Women where she served as a past treasurer and was a member of the Massey Peden Sunday School Class and Jubilee singers. She was a past member of the Laurel Altrosa Club, Delta Kappa Gamma, County Garden Club, and Laurel Natatorium water aerobics class.
Charlotte was a loving person to her family and friends and is deeply loved by her family. She enjoyed cooking, sewing, gardening, and serving her church. She was a friend to all as witnessed through her kindness, generosity, and helping spirit.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law Sara and Mike Burt of Tampa, Florida, and Louise and Frank Fall of Mountain Brook, Alabama. Her grandchildren are Amy Fall Funderburg and husband Corey of Birmingham, Alabama, and Wesley Fall and wife Tate of Birmingham. Great grandchildren are John David Funderburg and Turner Wyatt Funderburg.
Surviving siblings are Frankie Middleton and Stanley Shows and wife Tommie, and sister-in-law Betty Shows. She is, also, survived by twenty nieces and nephews and their children.
Charlotte was preceded in death by her mother and father, Ethel Hunter and Otho Shows; husband of 45 years Ray; brothers Harold Shows and William Thomas Shows; sister Jeanette Landrum; brothers-in-law U. G. Landrum, Jim Middleton, M. H. Mallette, and Max Welborn; sisters-in-law Mary Shows, Marguerite “Mutt” Mallette, and Audrey Welborn.
Serving as pallbearers will be Wesley Fall, Corey Funderburg, and nephews Mark Shows, Paul Shows, Greg Shows, and M. H. “Butch” Mallette. Honorary pallbearers will be nephews Hal McLeod, Steve Shows, Rodney Shows, Neil Shows, Scott Shows, James Middleton, Joel Shows, and men of the Massey Peden Sunday School Class.
The funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m. at Laurel First United Methodist Church on Monday, June 8, 2020, with burial at Hickory Grove Cemetery. Rev. Mark Anderson will officiate. The family and church leaders ask those in attendance to practice social distancing along with wearing a mask and following CDC guidelines. The service will be recorded for later viewing by those unable to attend. If you are in the category of the most vulnerable, age 65+ or have pre-existing conditions, it is recommended that you plan to view the video.
To sign the online guest book, visit www.memorychapellaurel.com.
