Carrie Basinger Palmer
Sarepta, LA

Carrie Ola "Carolyn" Basinger Palmer, aged 82 of Sarepta, LA, passed away on Wednesday, October 7, 2015. She was born to the late James Frank Basinger, Sr. and Maggie Ola Bullock Basinger on August 17, 1933 and was the youngest girl of 16 children.

In 1949, Carolyn married the love of her life Harold Palmer. She worked as a telephone operator in her early years and was also a bank teller who was once held at gunpoint during the infamous Sarepta Bank robbery of 1963. Later in life she was a bookkeeper at both Sidewinder and Carter Federal Credit Union. She raised three wonderful children and is predeceased by her youngest son, James Trey Palmer.

Carolyn was an avid walker and always had her nose in a good book. She could often be found standing by her husband Harold's side at the piano singing old southern gospel hymns. She enjoyed solving puzzles on Wheel of Fortune and piecing them together on her living room card table. Carolyn was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Rocky Mount, LA.

Family and friends were Carolyn's passion and delight. Every night she and her husband held hands to pray for each member of her family by name. She loved feeding people and her most cherished recipes will always be her tea cakes, soup and cornbread, and chicken n dressing. Carolyn was dearly loved and her spirit will live on through her children, grandchildren, and future generations. She was a good woman.

Carolyn is survived by her husband of 66 years, Harold Palmer; son, Harold Gilbert "Gil" Palmer; daughter, Paula Palmer (Wendell) Wright both of Sarepta, LA; daughter-in-law, Ellie Busken Palmer of Lawrenceburg, IN; grandchildren, Jacquelyn Tripp, Leo (Renee') Tripp, Paige Kirkland, Tiffany Tripp (Joshua) Byram, Jessie Palmer, and Lydia Wright of Shreveport, LA; great grandchildren, Claire Tripp, Brayden Tripp, Miles Lewis, Preston Lewis, Sloane Gardner, Phillip Kirkland, Palmer Byram, Deason Byram; sister, Joyce Boyett; brother, Eugene Basinger and a number of other relatives, including special nieces Darlene Boyett and Colette Sikes, and close friends.

She is predeceased by siblings Leola Staggs, Leo "Sonny" Staggs, James Thomas Basinger, Florance Morgan, Murphie Basinger, Nolan Basinger, Marjorie Burks, John D. Basinger, Jimmy Basinger, Carl Bassinger, O. C. Basinger, Bill Basinger, Norville Basinger; son James Trey Palmer; and great-grandson Asher Byram.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 pm, Friday, October 9, 2015 at the Bailey Funeral Home Chapel, Springhill, LA, with Bro. Michael Prescott officiating. Interment will follow in Old Sarepta Cemetery under the direction of Bailey Funeral Home.

Visitation will be held Thursday, October 8, 2015 from 5:00 pm until 8:00 pm at the funeral home.

Pallbearers will be Leo Tripp, Joshua Byram, Shaun Lewis, Wesley Clarkston, Jody Sikes and Danny Anderson. Honorary pallbearers will be Brayden Tripp, Miles Lewis and Preston Lewis.

Sign our online guest book at www.baileyfuneralhome.net.

Bailey Funeral Home
Springhill, LA
318-539-3555