After 96 beautiful years, on Jan. 16, 2024, Carolyn Gossett Jackson, an iconic trailblazer, and matriarch, took her final bow.
She was welcomed into Glory by her sweetheart, our daddy, by Doodlebug, (her beloved dog), by a host of family and friends and by her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Mother was born April 23, 1927, to Izetta and Carroll Gossett in Taylor.
Who could have imagined that the freckle-faced girl who loved to sing and romp in the family cotton fields, would grow up to travel the world, become a pioneer in broadcasting, host her own TV show and become a legend in Central Texas? Just a few of her accomplishments include graduating from Taylor High School and the University of Texas, where she was a member of Alpha Chi Omega sorority.
She was one of the first educational teachers on KLRU-TV in San Antonio, and then hosted The Carolyn Jackson Show in Austin. She was a radio talk show host, worked for the Texas Film Commission bringing movies to Texas, was in many TV commercials and two movies. She was a published author, one of Austin’s Outstanding Women of the Year and in Who’s Who of American Women. She was Ms.
Senior Texas and first runner up in the Ms. Senior America pageant. She was named to the Taylor Duck Hall of Fame and honored at age 90 at the Howard Theater in Taylor in a documentary, “The Carolyn Jackson Story.”
Her favorite life highlights include marrying handsome Charles (Chily) Jackson July 2, 1941, becoming a mom, grandmother and great grandmother. She loved being Marvin’s little sister, a sister-in-law, cousin, aunt and great aunt to so many.
Her life was filled with amazing friends, each loved so well. She treasured holidays, birthday celebrations, vacations, traveling, leading the crowd in a cheer every year at the Taylor High Homecoming reunion and lunches with the Yayas.
She loved being the wife of a WW ll Navy veteran, a Texan and American. She loved Jesus and she loved snuggling with Doodlebug.
Mother lived 96 years of “off the chart” adventure.
She lived out every dream.
She was fearless, the life of the party, sharp as a tack and just downright fun. She will be missed terribly, but she leaves the world a better place. She leaves friends grateful to have known her and family blessed beyond measure by the gift she was to us.
Those who will cherish sweet and incredible memories of mother are daughters, Cindi Scofield and Carol Tharp; of Mimi are son-in-law Brian Tharp; grandchildren, Shawna Wortham (Kyle), Stacie Caffey (Kevin), Shane Scofield (Sarah), Brandon Tharp (Lena) and Barrett Tharp (Reagan); and great grandchildren Callie Cornell (Joey), Audrey Wortham, Chance Wortham, Jackson Caffey, Slaton Caffey, Vivian Caffey, Bryson Tharp, Brody Tharp, Megan Tharp, Colton Joiner, Jentry Joiner and Carolyn or “Tutta” by her extended family and friends.
A celebration of her life was held Friday, Jan. 26, at 11 a.m. at The Worship Place in Georgetown. A visitation and reception followed in the Fellowship Hall of The Worship Place for family and friends to gather, visit and remember. The family will hold a private family graveside service at the Taylor City Cemetery.
