Carolyn Hemphill Rials

Carolyn Hemphill Rials, 97, passed away peacefully on Sunday, March 9, 2025, at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Oxford surrounded by her loving family.  Carolyn was born on November 9, 1927, in Oakvale, Mississippi to Clifford Lee Hemphill and Myrtis Jones Hemphill.  She was the oldest of five siblings in a close-knit family.  She graduated from Oakvale High School in 1946, where she was Miss Oakvale High School.  She attended Clark College and graduated from the University of Southern Mississippi with a degree in elementary education.  She began her teaching career at Oakvale.  It was here that she met her future husband, Charles R. “Candy” Rials.  They married on April 6, 1950.  Afterwards, she returned to the University of Southern Mississippi and earned her Master’s and Specialist’s Degrees in Administration.  They worked in several schools across the state, including Williamsburg, Agricola, Leakesville, and Morton.  While living in Agricola, their only daughter, Cindy, was born.  In 1968, they moved to Senatobia, where she continued to teach, and he was the superintendent of Senatobia Municipal School District. During their long careers in education, they were beloved by the students and faculty members whose lives they touched.  She was a classroom teacher for 38 years.  They both retired in 1988 and chose to remain in Senatobia. 

They enjoyed traveling, playing golf, and spending time with their grandchildren, Jennifer and Jay, who were their pride and joy.  She dedicated her life to serving her church, family and community.  She was involved in the Cosmopolitan Club and Ladies Golf Association at Back Acres Country Club.  She was an active member of First Baptist Church, where she taught the Grace Sunday School Class and sang in the Chancel Choir for many years.  She was also active in WMU.  She volunteered with her Sunday School class to polish fingernails weekly at the local nursing home.  She adored spending time with her five great-grandchildren and following their activities with her co-grandmother and best friend, Evelyn Hale. 

She will be missed by all who knew and loved her.  She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and her sisters, Lynn Williamson and Edna Earle Wall, and her best friend, Evelyn Hale. She is survived by her daughter, Cindy Rials Hale (Steve); her brothers, Billy Hemphill (Faye) and Jimmy Hemphill; her grandchildren, Jennifer Hale Lowrie (JB) and Jay Hale (Jennifer); and her five great-grandchildren, Aiden Rials Brunetti, Laney Lowrie, Elizabeth Anne Brunetti, Rials Hale, and Maggie Hale. The family would like to thank the staff at Providence Assisted Living for the excellent care given to her during the last two years of her life.  Memorials may be made to the C.R. and Carolyn Rials Memorial Scholarship, Northwest Community College Foundation, NWCC Box 7015, 4975 Highway 51 North, Senatobia, MS 38668 or Senatobia First Baptist Church, 317 Ward Street, Senatobia, MS 38668.

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