On Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at the age of 68, Carol Jeanette Smith Rose moved from this life to her new home with her Savior, Jesus Christ.
She was born Oct. 9, 1956, in Indianola, to Bonnie A'Layne Thomas Smith and J.L. Smith. She attended high school at Indianola Academy and graduated in the class of 1974. At IA, Carol met Walter Samuel “Sammy” Rose. They quickly became high school sweethearts, and it wasn't long before they both made their way to Mississippi State University – still going strong....
At MSU, Carol was a member of Phi Mu Sorority. She graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. She was a member of multiple honor societies and was very active on campus with Phi Mu's philanthropies.
She was also pinned as the Pi Kappa Alpha Sweetheart, and she was a well-known face at the Pike House.
Carol married Sammy at First Baptist Church in Indianola on July 14, 1979. They lived in Sunflower for a few years, where she taught 4th grade at Indianola Academy and also pursued her master’s in English from Delta State University. In 1983 they welcomed their first child, a daughter, Cassey. After Sammy's acceptance into optometry school in 1986, they moved to Memphis, where Carol taught 5th and 6th grade English at St. Mary's Episcopal School. After his graduation, they moved back to Indianola, and she taught English again, in the public school system. In 1994 they welcomed their second child, a son, Samuel. Over the next few years she took some time to enjoy her role as a mother. In this era she was the event coordinator, the cook, the carpool chauffeur, the traveler, and the involved club member. These years were her best years..... She became very active in her community in the 20th Century Club, Explorer’s Bible Study, Lay Witness Missions, serving for Rotary Club, Indianola Academy, Gideons, Emmaus, Honduras Baptist Medical/Dental Missions, and First United Methodist Church. In 2004, she was honored to serve as the lay-director for Emmaus Walk #173. She went on to teach the GED program at Mississippi Delta Community College. She became an English professor of Composition I and II and Creative Writing at MDCC. In 2017, she received the MDCC Distinguished Service Award for 14 years of service. Following retirement, Carol took up the love of traveling. She ventured to many places, including the British Virgin Islands, Germany, Hungary, Austria, Scotland, the United Kingdom, Mexico, and many more. Those stories from abroad provide so much laughter.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. Sammy Rose; her parents, Bonnie and J.L. Smith; and mother-in-law, Julia Clower Rose, all of Indianola.
She is survived by her children, Dr. Walter Samuel Rose II (Lydia) of Jackson and Dr. Cassey Rose Hardin (Mark); her grandchildren, Rose Cameron Hardin, Maryn Claire Hardin and Everlee Mills Hardin, all of Indianola; her sister, Daphne Smith Cobb of Gulfport; her brother, Jerry Layne Smith of Jackson; her father-in-law, Dr. Walter Henry Rose of Indianola; two sisters-in-law, Julia Rose Hill (Allen) of Indianola and Ann Rose Patridge (Bruce Abel) of Grenada; her aunt, Susan Thomas Hutchinson (Billy) of Fuquay-Varina, N.C.; and many nieces and nephews.
Services were held Wednesday, Oct. 23, at First Methodist Church in Indianola. Visitation began at 1 p.m. in Newman Hall with the celebration of life service following at 2 p.m. Interment was held at Indianola Cemetery. Burton Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to Indianola First Methodist Church.
