Carolyn Summers Herrera, 89, of Tifton Georgia (formerly of Panama City, Florida) passed away peacefully on November 3, 2025 at Tift Regional Medical Center with family at her side. Carolyn moved to Cypress Pond Senior Home in Tifton, Georgia in 2022.
Carolyn was born on June 9, 1936 to Anna Marie Gillen and Charles William Summers in Freeport, New York. She lived in North Merrick, New York through high school. After graduating from Mepham High School in 1954, she went to work for the Equitable Insurance Company in Manhattan, New York. She married Christopher John Herrera who was in the U.S. Air Force and they lived in different places in the United States. Later in life she graduated from Florida State University with a teaching degree. She worked at several libraries including the Panama City Library and the Air Force Academy library, sold insurance, worked at a center for disabled adults, and taught at an elementary school. She was an avid FSU football fan - Go Seminoles! Upon retiring Carolyn and her husband Chris enjoyed traveling in their motor home all across the United States including a memorable trip to Alaska. One of her passions was doing family history research, ending with a special trip to Germany to visit the home town of her ancestors. Her beloved cats who predeceased her were Snowball, LC and Joe; Tiger is now living with Carolyn’s daughter Lori.
Carolyn was predeceased by her husband, Christopher Herrera, her parents, Anna Marie Gillen and Charles William Summers and her brother Edward C. Summers. She is survived by her two daughters, Lori Ann Moncus (Tony) of Fitzgerald, Georgia and Jacqueline Herrera Wilson (Michael) of Arlington, Virginia as well as her grandchildren, Shanna (Chuck) Hester, Dana Clayton, Micah Wilson, Alex (Stephen) Wilson-Ulloa and Anna Wilson, Shane and Tyler Moncus, 13 great grandchildren and 1 great great granddaughter, sister Virginia E. Olsen (Cliff) of Sandy Hook, Virginia, brother Kenneth W. Summers (Lynn) of Wantagh, New York and many nieces and nephews.
There will be a memorial service before interment on November 10, 2025 at 10:00 am at Fort Barrancas National Cemetery, Pensacola, Florida where she will join her loving husband Chris.
Paulk Funeral Home, Fitzgerald, is in charge of arrangements.