CHARLOTTE- Muriel Arlene Vollum (lovingly known as Mimi Vollum) was born in Albert Lea, MN on January 21, 1928, and raised on the family farm. She was baptized and confirmed at East Freeborn Lutheran Church. She graduated from Albert Lea High School in 1945 and from the University of Minnesota in 1949. Mimi earned an Elementary School Teaching Certificate on a Ford Foundation Fellowship at San Francisco State College. She also attended North Carolina State University where she earned her Master’s Degree in 1969 and Doctorate Degree in 1971 in Adult & Community College Education.

Muriel Arlene Vollum

Her very diverse interests took her to several cities and a variety of interesting jobs, ranging from teaching third grade, to working on the staff of the first listener-sponsored FM radio station in the world, to working with the international organization in Washington, DC. In 1954, while living in Berkeley, CA she married Jerry Edwardson of Albert Lea: they were later divorced.

In 1971 she joined the faculty at Central Piedmont Community College, in Charlotte, as Director of Educational Development where she served for a number of years. After leaving CPCC, she helped establish a Charlotte branch of the External College Degree Program, assisting adults in achieving accredited college degrees through non-traditional methods.

Pursuing an increasing interest in the environment and in alternative approaches to health, she developed an independent wellness business in affiliation with Shaklee Corporation, through which she found satisfaction in helping others achieve greater health and personal growth.

Throughout her years in Charlotte, she maintained an active interest in a number of business, civic and political groups (Altrusa, Democratic Women, and Women Business Owners, to name a few), serving on a number of boards and enjoying a diverse group of friends and activities. In 2001, Mimi received the Business Owner of the Year Award from the National Association of Women Business Owners – Charlotte Chapter.

She married Jay M. Meyers in 1975 and embraced his family of six as her own. She and Jay enjoyed 22 years of great happiness together until his death in 1997.

Mimi is survived by her stepchildren, Micaela Marr of Dumfries, VA, Eleana Boyer of Woodbridge, VA, Emilie Sharbaugh and her husband, Gene Sharbaugh, of Charlotte, NC and Richard Meyers of Scottsville, KY; as well as 12 grandchildren, 18 great-grandchildren and 7 great-great grandchildren. She is also survived by several nieces and nephews on the Vollum side of the family, whom she dearly loved. She was preceded in death by her parents, Martin and Laura Vollum; her brother, Orville Vollum; her sisters, Margaret Anderson, Elaine Reid, and Jeanette Mortenson; her stepson, Jay Ferrin Meyers and stepdaughter, Gayle Ziegler.

A memorial service will be held at 11:30 AM on Saturday, October 12, 2024, at the Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte, 234 North Sharon Amity Road in Charlotte. The family will receive friends following the service at the church. Her ashes will be interred at Forest Lawn West Cemetery, next to the love of her life.

In lieu of flowers, it was Mimi’s wish that donations be made to The Carter Center, 453 John Lewis Freedom Parkway NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (cartercenter.org) or to UNICEF, 125 Maiden Lane, New York, NY 10038 (unicef.org).

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