My Dear Friend Missy Caulk: The Impact She Made on All of Us
There are people who come into your life and leave footprints. And then… there are people like Missy Caulk—who leave a path.
From the very first time I met Missy in the Rain, I knew she was different. Brilliant, bold, and just a little ahead of the rest of us (okay… maybe a lot ahead). If Missy said, “You need to be on this,” we didn’t ask questions—we just signed up. Because she knew. She always knew where this business was going long before the rest of us caught up.
Atlanta: Front: Chris Bohn, me, Tammy Lankford, Second Row: Missy Caulk, Thom Abbott, Danielle Sharp, Don Baker, Third Row: Bill Spear & Ben Dunsworth. Fourth Row, Eric Michael & Melissa McKinney.
There are leaders, and then there are the ones who quietly shape an entire industry. Missy Caulk was that rare kind of leader.
Missy wasn’t just part of ActiveRain’s early days—she helped shape what it became. She was a true pioneer in real estate technology, a nationally respected speaker, and one of the most influential voices our industry has ever known.
But to me… she was so much more.
She was my dear friend. My mentor. My road trip partner across this country—from RainCamps to CRS events to REBarCamps in Atlanta and everywhere in between. We shared hotel rooms, late-night conversations, laughter, ideas and those moments that only happen when you truly connect with someone.
Front only: Thom Abbott, Missy, me
One of my favorite memories of Missy takes me right back to New Orleans. We were rooming together while attending CRS, NAR, and the very first NOLA RainCamp—already an unforgettable trip.
But what made it truly special? I had two major Closings happening while we were there—a $2M sale and a $1M purchase. And back then, those were BIG deals.
While everyone else was heading to sessions and soaking in the city, I was quite literally “at the closing table”… from our hotel room… via Skype.
My clients placed the attorney’s laptop at the head of the table so I could see everyone, be part of every moment and stay fully present. And of course—Missy had to sneak a peek!
But what I remember most isn’t just the technology (which, let’s be honest, Missy absolutely loved)…it was her. LOL She told everyone we saw/met after that, what I had done—like it was the most exciting thing in the world! She was my biggest cheerleader, celebrating those Closings as if they were her own.
And I think it’s safe to say… we celebrated all. week. long!
Left Front to back: Bob Stewart, Krista Caulk, Nikesh Parekh, Missy. Right front to back: Brad Andersohn, Kerrie LaGuardia, Lauren Bernstein, Jon Washburn & me.
Another fun fact - Missy is the reason I became a Mac girl…OH, and an iPhone user! (And you bet! I’ve never looked back.)
One of the greatest honors of my career was when Missy asked me if she could name her real estate company after mine. At the time, I was an owner at Savvy + Company here in Charlotte and the idea that she, Missy Caulk, wanted to carry that name forward in Ann Arbor? That meant SO much to me. Because if you knew Missy, you knew… she didn’t do anything halfway.
She built Savvy Realty Company into something special—just like everything she touched.
Front Row: Melissa McKinney, Loreena & Mike Yeo, 2nd Row: Bill Spear, Cindy Jones, Missy, Danielle Sharp, Christine Donovan, Tammy Lankford Baker. 3rd Row: Thom Abbott, Eric Michael, me, Larry Story, Jason Crouch, Chris Bohn & Don Baker
And while her professional accomplishments were extraordinary, they pale in comparison to the strength she showed in her personal life.
Missy endured unimaginable loss… the passing of her son, her granddaughter and her husband—all within such a short span of time. I believe it was less than 2 years. And yet, somehow, she stood tall. She held her family together.
Missy carried grief with a grace and resilience that I have never seen before in another human being. She was, without question, the strongest woman I have ever known.
A devoted wife.
A loving mother to five incredible children.
A proud grandmother.
A leader.
A teacher.
A friend to so many of us here in the Rain.
And even through it all… she still showed up. She still gave and gave and gave. She still mentored. She still poured into others.
That was Missy.
When she was diagnosed with cancer in January of 2024, she faced that battle the same way she faced everything else in life—with courage, determination and incredible dignity. And though she has left this world, her impact will never leave us.
Not in this community. Not in this business. Not in my heart. Missy Caulk was one of a kind.
As we take a moment to honor those in ActiveRain who have gone before us, I had to put Missy in the spotlight—she so deserves any and all accolades bestowed upon her.
Thank you, Missy… for your wisdom, your friendship, your leadership and your love. You didn’t just make a difference. You made all the difference—to many.
And many thanks to Patricia Feager & Lew Corcoran for hosting this month's challenge, Celebrating AR Lives Lost. If someone in the Rain has touched your life and is no longer with us, it’s not too late to share your tribute this month.
Comments(20)