Linda Carmell Hammond

Carmell Hammond passed away into the loving arms of Jesus on June 3, 2024, at the age of 75. Carmell was born in Gladewater, Texas on September 17, 1948. 

She grew up in Gladewater, and she probably knew everyone from Gladewater High School classes from 1956-1967. And maybe even a few more from the ‘70s. She cheered and danced her way through GHS and Graduated in 1967 where she was voted Miss GHS among other honors. She loved cheering for the Bears and throughout her whole life, it did not take much to coax her into doing a cheer. She would say no at first and then would say “Ok” and jump up like a 16-year-old and yell “Two Bits…” at the top of her lungs! She was a Gladewater girl through and through and loved nothing more than reminiscing with old friends about the “old” times. 

After high school, she married Larry Sorrells, and they had 2 children. She was a devoted mother as they grew up and would have done anything to make them happy and let them know they were loved. Although divorced, Carmell and Larry remained friends for not only the benefit of their children, but because they really liked each other. One of her greatest accomplishments is that she started college as a young married mother of 2 small children and graduated from University of Texas at Tyler (Texas Eastern University) with a teaching degree. She went on to teach for over 30 years.

After the kids grew up, she made the decision to step out on her own and she met so many good friends along the way. She moved to Louisiana where she learned she loved to fish and ride Harleys, and during a short stint in Colorado, she learned to ski, snowmobile and love the beautiful surroundings. But the grandkids were born, and she knew she needed to go home to East Texas. She taught for several years at Union Grove and made some of her closest friends. She hosted “Grandma Camp” for many summers that started with 1 grandchild and eventually grew to six. 

If you knew Carmell, you know she loved 3 things above all else, (1.) her children and grand & great grandchildren, (2.) country music and (3.) ELVIS – not necessarily in that order! She eventually moved to College Station to be closer to her kids and grandkids. She probably spent a fortune on country music CDs and never got rid of a single one! She talked about her favorite singers like they were her personal friends, and last but not least, she had an (unhealthy??) adoration of Elvis. She remembers seeing him on the Louisiana Hayride, and she was hooked. She collected Elvis vinyl albums, 8-tracks, cassette tapes and CDs through the years. Her prized possession was a scarf Elvis gave her at a concert in Shreveport, Louisiana. And yes, it was custom framed, and she moved it around with her for almost 50 years! 

Carmell learned that she had metastatic breast cancer in the fall of 2023. She finally succumbed to that awful disease on June 3, 2024, in College Station. Her ashes will be buried in the Hammond section of the Gladewater Memorial Park along with her Daddy & Mother, Elvis and Juanita “Nita” Hammond, her sisters Laurell and Cindy, and Laurell’s sweet baby, Trey. Carmell loved the idea that she would be there with the rest of her family.

Carmell is survived by her son, Steve (Paige) Sorrells, and Shelly (Randy) Martin. Grandchildren, Blake (Garrison) Fick, and their children Greyson and Shepherd, Reagan (Ben) Bryant and their son Wyatt, David (Olivia) Sorrells & Lauren Sorrells. She also dearly loved her nieces, Laurell’s daughters Laura Lea Traugott and Corrie Magner. She also loved Laura Lea’s children Avery and Dylan as if they were her own grandchildren. Carmell also has left behind numerous friends that felt like family. 

Please join us to celebrate her life on Saturday June 29, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at a graveside service in Gladewater Memorial Park Cemetery, 4716 U.S. Highway 80, Big Sandy, Texas 75755.

Please join the family for a reception at the Gladewater Former Students Association Building at 2509 West Hendricks, Gladewater, TX immediately after the service.