James Yancey Carroll
By: Terry McDaniel
Updated: October 1, 2012
James Yancey Carroll, born February 17, 1924, in Ozark, Alabama, died peacefully September 29, 2012, at the Sims Veterans' Nursing Home, Springfield, Florida. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruth Reynolds Carroll and William Grady Carroll, and baby daughter, Susan Reynolds Carroll.
Funeral services have been rescheduled to 3:00 P. M. Tuesday, from the First United Methodist Church of Ozark with Reverend Dr. Christian Eckert, and Reverend Dr. Jason Thrower officiating. Interment will follow in Westview Memorial Cemetery, Holman Funeral Home of Ozark directing. The family will receive friends Tuesday at the church from 1:00 P.M. until service time.
He and the former Merle Tilley of Ozark, married 62 years, became the proud parents of Mary (Mrs. Robert Herdegen III) of Hampden-Sydney, VA, and Ellen (Mrs. Fred Moore III) of Dyersberg, TN. James and Merle were blessed with five beloved granddaughters, Sarah Barkley (soon to be Mrs. Chad Raaymakers) of Oldsmar, FL, Meg Barkley Sterbenz (Mrs. Chris) of Ft. Hood, TX, Elizabeth and Rebecca Moore, students in Nashville, TN, and Genevieve Herdegen, a student in Gettysburg, PA.
He and his wife enjoyed many years of foreign travel, golf, fishing, and Alabama football. Often their children joined them in these happy activities.
After his freshman year at the University of Alabama (Kappa Sigma Fraternity), he joined the Navy during early World War II. He went to officer training at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA, and Columbia University in New York City, where he graduated 47th in a class of over 1,100.He served three years as his ship's navigator in the South Pacific theatre of war.
Returning home, he graduated in business from the University of Alabama and one year later, upon his father's death, he became sole owner of Carroll Hardware.He later added Parker-Johnson Building Supply, Carroll Heating and Air Conditioning, Carroll Gift Shop, and Carroll Well Drilling to his business interests.
He became a major contractor, providing a trainload of sheetrock for the housing at Ft. Rucker and air conditioning all of the houses at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL.He was greatly aided by his cousin and business manager, Frances Kingsley of Ozark.
He has served as the charter president of the Ozark Rotary Club, president of the Dale County Chamber of Commerce, co-chairman of the Dale County United Way, Chairman of the Ozark-Dale County Public Library Board of Trustees, Chairman of the Ozark Water Board for several years, and was a long time director of South Trust Bank of Ozark.
He has served since young manhood as a steward in the First United Methodist Church of Ozark.He has been chairman of the administrative board, a Sunday school teacher, church and district lay leader, President of the Alabama-West Florida Methodist Foundation, and he is on the Board of Trustees of Birmingham Southern College.
The family is deeply grateful to James's cousins, Oliver Kingsley, Jr., and his wife, Sally, for their ever present help during James's long illness.The family is also indebted to Cathey and Ralph Hobbs and their staff at Parker Realty, Mexico Beach, FL, the staff and members of the Ozark United Methodist Church, and the caring staffs at The Bridge Nursing Home, Port St. Joe, FL, and the Sims Veterans Home, Springfield, FL.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in his memory to the First United Methodist Church of Ozark Mission Fund, 167 East Broad Street, Ozark, AL 36360; or to the Ozark-Dale County Library, 416 James Street, Ozark, AL 36360; or the charity of your choice.
