Funeral services celebrating the life of Mrs. Carolyn Carroll Wheelis Freeland, 85, of Rayville, were held Monday, November 10, 2025, in the chapel of Mulhearn Funeral Home Rayville, with Rev. Colton Kelley officiating.
Interment followed in the Stevenson Cemetery in Rayville.
Mrs. Freeland was born on January 15, 1940, and passed away on November 6, 2025. Carolyn retired from the Richland Parish School Board after 20 years of dedicated service working with special needs children. She loved her students deeply and found great joy in helping each one reach their potential. She had a gift for caring for others and freely shared her kindness, warmth, and love with everyone she met.
Remembered as someone who never sought attention for herself, Carolyn lived a life centered on compassion and gratitude. Even in the face of hardship, she chose to see life’s glass as half full, meeting every obstacle as an adventure to be embraced.
Her radiant smile could light up a room, and she shared it generously. Carolyn cherished her family beyond measure and never missed a chance to tell them how much she loved them. She took delight in every story, every laugh, and every adventure of her children and grandchildren. Carolyn was loved by so many and will be profoundly missed by all whose lives she touched.
Carolyn is preceded in death by her parents, James Richmond Carroll and Irene Madden Carroll; husbands, Aubrey Wheelis and Johnny Freeland; daughters, Joy Wheelis Evans and Kathy Wheelis Garrett; and her brother, Jim Carroll.
Survivors include her daughters, Pam Wheelis Chapman and husband, Dewayne, and Tracy Wheelis Coon and husband, Jeff; son, John Freeland and wife, Amber; grandchildren, Stacey Reddick Marble and husband, Matt, Jake Chapman and wife, Rachel, Ryan Evans and wife, Kara, Travis Chapman and wife, Victoria, Cole Evans and wife, Chelsea, Sam Hopper and wife, Mary Allison, Ben Hopper, Ella Freeland, Noah Freeland and Tanya Garrett; great grandchildren, Ryder Marble, Julia Chapman, Georgia Chapman, Owen Chapman, Bentley Evans, Waylon Chapman, Magnolia Chapman, Will Evans, and Hallie Joy Evans; along with a host of nieces, nephews, family and friends.
Pallbearers were her grandsons, Jake Chapman, Travis Chapman, Ryan Evans, Cole Evans, Sam Hopper, Ben Hopper and Noah Freeland.
Honorary pallbearers were her great grandsons and nephews, Ryder Marble, Owen Chapman, Bentley Evans, Waylon Chapman, Will Evans, William Freeland, Richard Freeland, David Freeland, Danny Freeland, Tommy Dale Freeland and Greg Freeland.
Visitation was from 11 a.m. until service time on Monday, November 10, 2025, at Mulhearn Funeral Home Rayville.
Memorials may be made to the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to the charities of your choice.
