Obituary for Careen Fordham

MRS. CAROLYN RENE “CAREEN” EAGERTON FORDHAM, age 77, of Eastman, GA, passed away peacefully surrounded by her loved ones Sunday, October 30, 2022, at her residence.

 Graveside Funeral services will be held at 11:00AM Wednesday, November 2, in Orphans Cemetery, with Dr. Jerry Peele officiating.

 Careen was born in Atlanta, GA on November 14, 1944, while her father was serving his country in Germany during World War II, and she moved with her family to Eastman in 1956. She graduated from Dodge County High School in 1963, from Berry College in 1967 with her degree in Mathematics, and later obtained her Master and Specialist degrees. After college, she was an educator at several Air Force bases including Labrador, Turkey, Germany, and Spain. She continued her teaching career in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Seattle, Washington, Dodge County Middle School, and Dodge County High School. She also taught at Middle Georgia College for many years. Not only was she a devoted math teacher, but she served as a mentor, advisor, nurturer, and friend for many of her students and fellow teachers. Her home and her classroom were always open for anyone who needed help. In 2019, she served as the Grand Marshall for the Dodge County High School Homecoming Parade.

She was a dedicated member of Eastman First Baptist Church where she taught numerous Sunday School Classes and was a member of the Esther Sunday School Class. Careen was a past President of the Dodge County Retired Educators Association and served on the Board for the Senior Citizen’s Center of Eastman. As a counselor at the Christian Life Center, she assisted many families in Dodge County and was active with the Meals on Wheels program.

She loved going on mission trips to serve others and teach them about the love of Jesus. She enjoyed traveling, making jewelry, cross stitching, scrap booking, shopping, scuba diving in the Cayman Islands with her husband, visiting The Pine Mountain Chalet, walking, participating in her prayer groups, and spending time with her friends and her dogs. Her main priority was her family and she spent many years helping to take care of her loving mother and her beloved brother and father.

Careen was the daughter of the late Herbert Eagerton and Norma Jane Walls Eagerton and was preceded in death by her Stepdaughter, Heather Fordham, Brother, Sonny Eagerton, Mother and Father-in-law, Adelle and Alvin Fordham.

She is survived by her Husband of over 24 years – Al Fordham of Eastman; 2 Sisters-in-law – Teresa Martin (Mack) of Gray and Sherill McLeod of Forsyth; 2 Aunts – Edna Eagerton and Bee Allen; Numerous Nieces, Nephews, Cousins, and Friends.

 The family may be contacted at the Fordham residence, 1104 7th Avenue, Eastman, and will receive friends in Stokes-Southerland Funeral Home from 9:30AM-10:30AM Wednesday, November 2.