Paula Holmes Chaffin

1958 - 2024

Paula Holmes Chaffin was born to M.D. and Peggy Holmes on February 28, 1958. She was their third child. Paula attended Berclair Elementary, Kingsbury Junior High, and graduated from Kingsbury High school a year early (she has always been an overachiever).

Paula married Rick Chaffin in October of 1987. Rick was brave enough to marry Paula and her two children, Jenni and Michael. Although, this was only after a whirlwind courtship of 17 days and more consideration may have served him well. They have been consistent residents of Midtown their entire marriage and were often seen walking anywhere from Central Gardens to Overton Park. Their love was one to envy and they could be spotted holding hands everywhere they went. If any of us can aspire to one thing, it is to be part of a love like theirs. They recently celebrated their 36th anniversary.

Paula achieved much in her professional career with various companies in Memphis, such as Lovitt Company Realtors, Memphis Bioworks Foundation, and Martin, Tate, Morrow, and Marston. One shining moment in her varied career was the coordination of the Baptist Hospital implosion in downtown Memphis. She loved an excuse to don her hot pink hard hat and direct a big project!

Her proudest achievements were her love for her husband, Rick Chaffin, the pride in her children's accomplishments, and the absolute joy her grandchildren brought to her life. Paula would stop at nothing to sing the latest praises of her grandson, Noah, or to show off the latest pictures of her granddaughters, Zoey and Aleta. She was known as a loving wife, as an involved and caring mother, and as the best darned Lala that her three grandchildren could ever know.

Paula was an incredible organizer and planner. She could organize everything and anything, (except for the multitudes of things brought into her home-those things would live forever in closets, under beds or in the sunroom/attic). Never more than a few feet away from her day planner, color coded folders, and sticky tabs for notebooks, she loved a trip to the office supply store and the opportunity to coordinate things.

While love in the family has always been both constant and fierce, it has also always been defined by the ways in which we love to poke fun at and with one another. Laughter is a common feature of every family gathering with Paula at the center.

Paula was also an accomplished canoeist, placing first in nearly every year's Memphis in May Canoe Race in the big canoe (22+ ft) category. This was an achievement as her husband's canoe was typically the only other competitor in their category. In typical fashion for our family, Paula's win was described as coming in next to last while Rick's boat would finish in second place (there were typically only the two boats in our class). And yet she was rewarded for her victory with Pirtle's Fried Chicken and drinks.

Paula was a member of Idlewild Presbyterian Church and served the congregation in various capacities, including as a deacon and an elder. She was grateful for Idlewild as a safe space for what she referred to as a "recovering Baptist."

Paula also came to love golf later in life and found it to be her favorite athletic endeavor. Starting as a way to spend time with her husband and son, Michael, she eventually came to love the challenge and frustration for which this sport is known. Her favorite way to spend a day was swinging a club and riding in a cart with the people she loved!

Paula has always been one of the most welcoming and loving souls in Memphis. She dearly loved her friends, devotedly loved her family, and cared for all of those around her. She never met a stranger and loved to make new friends with those she encountered. Many people that she would randomly encounter (even on far away vacations) would become lifelong correspondents or even people to travel with on future trips. Paula would even take time out of her night to talk to the Canadian that called the wrong number at 2 AM, because being polite to them was the right thing to do.

Over the past several years, Paula was instrumental in organizing the Park Friends Music nights in Overton Park. Not to toot her horn but Paula excelled at organizing people and things. These harmonious nights were some of her favorites each spring and fall. To her, there was nothing better than a sunset, a glass of wine, and a night of music with friends.

Paula is survived by her loving husband, Rick Chaffin, her adoring children, Jenni and Michael (Danielle) Brooks, her sister Nancy Higgs, her nephew Adam (Samantha) Higgs, her niece Stephanie Higgs, and the grandchildren that held her heart, Noah, Zoey, and Aleta Brooks. She also leaves behind a truly loyal and devoted group of close friends.

A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, June 26 at 2 pm at Idlewild Presbyterian Church (1750 Union Avenue Memphis TN 38104) with a reception to follow.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her memory to Rachel's Kids (2616 Wesselly Avenue Memphis, TN 38112).