Carolyn W. Tipton's Obituary
Carolyn Willis Tipton, 83, of Germantown, TN, passed away on Monday, August 25, 2025.
Carolyn was born in Dyer County Tennessee in the Summer of 1942 to Clara Hardin Willis and John Willis. Upon graduating Dyer County High School she moved to Memphis to enter Methodist Hospital School of Nursing. She graduated as a registered nurse in 1963 and began working at Methodist Hospital Emergency Room. In December 1963 she married A. Dulaney Tipton, Jr. They were married for 39 years until his death in 2001. She is survived by their two children, Dr. A. Dulaney “Chip” Tipton, IV (Charles Leininger) and C. Anne Tipton, Esq.
Carolyn continued her nursing career as Director of Nursing of Lakeside Hospital. She also pursued a career in real estate as a founding principal Broker of Carriage Trade Realty. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Memphis (Memphis State University) in 1988 and her master’s degree in social work at the University of Tennessee School of Social Work. She began her career in social work at Family Service of Memphis. She maintained a private practice for many years before joining Jewish Family Service. Her practice focused on the treatment of children and the development of the play therapy community in the Memphis area. She was an adjunct professor at the UT School of Social Work and the UofM Social Work and additionally provided the necessary professional field supervision for new graduates working toward their licensure. She served as President of the Memphis Area Play Therapy Association of which she was a charter member and received a Lifetime Contribution Award from the Tennessee Association for Play Therapy.
In her spare time she was a lifelong lover of bridge and travel to both foreign and domestic lands with her friends and family. Throughout her life she enjoyed the creative arts and was an accomplished artist.
Above all, she was most proud of her children, often bragging about them to whoever would lend an ear. She also cherished her many wonderful friends and family.
The visitation for Mrs. Tipton will be held Friday, August 29, 2025 at Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis TN from 1:30 p.m. followed by the service at 2:30 p.m. Interment will be in Memorial Park Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Tennessee Association for Play Therapy or the charity of donor’s choice.
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