Kenneth Poe Funeral Services

April 28, 2021

CHARLOTTE – Ardis Marilyn Miller Caulkins passed away on Wednesday, April 28, 2021 at the age of 87. Ardis was born in Oak Park, Illinois on July 19, 1933 to Florence and Frank N. Miller Sr. of Chicago, Illinois.  

Ardis grew up mostly in Newton, North Carolina. She attended and graduated from Lenoir-Rhyne College in Hickory, North Carolina. After teaching for two years in Hickory, Ardis received an assistantship to attend graduate school at The University of Tennessee where she met Douglas Caulkins, the love of her life. They were married in St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church in Hickory on January 11, 1958.  

Ardis and Doug moved to Memphis, Tennessee after their wedding where they lived until Doug was transferred to Shreveport, Louisiana in the spring of 1959.

Ardis was a deacon and an elder at First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport. She was active in the Presbyterian Women and Circle. She taught preschoolers in the church school for many years. Ardis was the first Director of the Mother’s Day-Out Program (now Presbyterian Day School) from fall 1971 to spring 1987.

Ardis was a volunteer at Schumpert Medical Center, a Master Gardener, and a volunteer at the Noel Methodist Church food pantry. She loved reading, gardening, solving pencil puzzles, her neighborhood coffee group (a member for over 50 years) and her many friends.

Her pride and joy were her children: Douglas Bruce Caulkins and Mikel Wilson, David L. Caulkins and Mary, D. Ann (Cissie) Caulkins and Kelley Anderson, and Daniel M. Caulkins and Soraya. Her grandchildren are Betty Caulkins, Dallas Caulkins, Porter Anderson and Miller Anderson.

She is survived by her husband of 63 years, Douglas Caulkins, along with her children and grandchildren.

A service to celebrate the life of Ardis Caulkins will be held at 2:00 pm on Saturday, June 12, 2021 at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Jordan Street, Shreveport, LA 71101. Live Stream is available at https://www.fpcshreveport.org/watch-live/.

Memorials may be made to First Presbyterian Church of Shreveport designated for the Day School or to the American Cancer Society.  

Arrangements are in the care of Kenneth W. Poe Funeral & Cremation Service, 1321 Berkeley Ave., Charlotte, NC 28204; (704) 641-7606. Online condolences can be shared at www.kennethpoeservices.com.