DR. CAROL CHILDE COSSUM
12/18/1929 - 06/30/2023
Carol Childe Cossum, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and greatgrandmother passed away peacefully on June 30, 2023, while resting next to her husband of 71 years and her dog Sophie.
Carol was preceded in death by her father Roland Inglis, her mother Cornelia Childe, stepfather Robert Childe and brother John Inglis.
Surviving are her husband Robert; sons Bobby and his partner Debra, John, David and his wife Ann; grandchildren Taylor, Zachary and his wife Lauren, Hunter, Quentin, and Andrea; and great-granddaughter Blakelyn; half-brothers Rob, Jim, and Peter Inglis; nieces Suzy Blundred, Barbie Angel, Becky Redfield and Wendy Redfield, and nephews David Inglis and Sam Redfield; as well as God daughters Kathryn McNiel and Catherine Raffaele.
Carol was born on December 18, 1929, in Chicago Illinois where she later met her husband Bob whom she married on June 21, 1952. Carol graduated from Vassar College earlier in 1952. Bob and Carol moved to Houston shortly after marrying where Bobby and then John were born. They moved for a brief period to New Orleans where David was born before moving back to Houston. Carol was always striving to serve and enhance her adopted community of Houston. Throughout her long career, she worked to empower the underprivileged, restore those that were hurting or abused, and fight for equity in the workplace and education. Many of these activities supported other women determined to make an impact in traditional and non-traditional roles, including her active participation in the “Seven Sisters,” an organization supporting women’s liberal arts colleges, professional women’s breakfast clubs, and leading workshops focused on empowering and healing women. Beginning in 1961, Carol wrote a column in the Bellaire Texan called “Potluck” where she mused over parenting and other topics. She served on a Harris County Grand Jury, worked with Houston Action for Youth, the Houston Independent School District, the Houston Veterans Administration Hospital, and at the University of Houston as a counselor, all while pursuing her own educational goals and parenting the three boys with Bob. Carol earned her Masters in Psychology from the University of Houston in 1969, a Doctorate in Education from the University of Houston in 1979, and became a licensed Psychologist in 1981. Carol loved her work teaching and helping others. She was valued and loved by clients, colleagues, friends, and relatives for her insights, counsel, and support. She enjoyed volunteering on various projects at Christ Church Cathedral in Houston and gave freely of her time and resources on issues reflective of her values. Her greatest joy came from time spent with family, especially her grandchildren and most recently her great-granddaughter.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 am, on Friday, August 4, 2023, at Christ Church Cathedral, 1117 Texas Ave., in Houston. The service will also be live-streamed at https://www.christchurchcathedral.org/carolcossum/.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations to the charity of your choice. Organizations close to Carol’s heart include Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Hermann Park Conservancy in Houston and Blackwood Educational and Land Institute in Hempstead.