Anne E Carroll

Anne Ewing Carroll of Durham, North Carolina died December 9, 2022, surrounded by her loving family. She prepared the following story of her life.

I was born February 26, 1932 in Ellerbe, North Carolina, the youngest of five children born to the late James Oscar and Annie Kearns Ewing. I teased my mother that I was the “accident” and she replied, “Yes, but a nice one.” I was married in 1954 to Jackson W. Carroll.

I graduated from Greensboro College where I majored in elementary education with a minor in piano. I did graduate study at Winthrop College (SC) and Trenton State College (NJ). My first teaching job was in second grade at Holloway Street School in Durham. I later taught at South Brunswick Elementary School (NJ), and the Westminster School in Atlanta. Afterwards, while living in Bloomfield, Connecticut, I enjoyed ten years in real estate sales.

Following my husband’s graduation from Duke Divinity School, we spent a year in Dumfries, Scotland where he was assistant minister of St. Michael’s Church (Church of Scotland). Returning from Scotland, we moved several times in connection with his studies and career, including Rock Hill, SC, Durham, NC, Princeton, NJ, Atlanta, GA, and Bloomfield, CT. We returned to Durham in 1993, when my husband joined the faculty of Duke Divinity School.

In Connecticut, I was an active member of the Bloomfield Congregational Church (UCC), serving as chair of the Board of Deacons and president of the Women’s Guild. Reflecting my love of music, I was a founding member of the church’s handbell choir. I was also a member of the Connecticut Rose Society.

Moving to Durham in 1993, I became a member of Duke Memorial United Methodist Church, where I held numerous positions, including service on the administrative board, trustees, women’s study group and as a member of the handbell choir. I was also a member of Halcyon Literary Club and served as its president for two terms. My husband I enjoyed collecting North Carolina traditional pottery and were members of the North Carolina Pottery Collectors Guild and the North Carolina Pottery Center. I was also an avid reader, enthusiastic tennis player, and a big fan of Duke basketball. Above all, I strived to be a devoted wife, mother and grandmother.

Jack and I had many opportunities to travel widely in the United States and abroad. We led a student work group to Nicaragua, spent sabbatical leaves in Africa (Nigeria and South Africa), England and Australia, and also traveled to numerous other countries.

In 2008, we moved to Croasdaile Village Retirement Community, where I was involved in many activities of the Residents Association.

I am survived by my husband of 68 years. Survivors also include my daughters, Susan Carroll Whitcomb of Hillsborough and Frances Carroll Strumph and husband Paul S. Strumph of Moneta, Virginia. Other survivors are five grandchildren: Caroline Strumph Schnapp (Michael), Matthew Strumph (Caroline), Philip, Genevieve and Arlo Whitcomb, and four great granddaughters. A son-in-law, Giles M. Whitcomb and granddaughter, Isabel M. Whitcomb, preceded me in death.

A service of death and resurrection will be held in Few Chapel at Croasdaile Village at 11:00 am on December 28. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to Croasdaile Village Benevolence Fund, Duke Memorial United Methodist Church Bell Choir, or DoctorsWithoutBorders.org.

Many thanks to my family and friends for their loving support and care. I have had a wonderful life.