Mrs. Carolyn (Carole) Rae Simmons Carr was the daughter of the late Ray Charles Simmons and the late Dorothy DeVaughn Jones. Although this union dissolved, John R. Jones, Sr., married Dorothy and together they adoringly reared Carole, her sister and brother. Carole was a highly intelligent woman. She received her early education in the Nash County public school system and the Wayne County public school system, graduating from Dillard High School in Goldsboro in 1962. Carole was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate her 50th high school class reunion in 2012.After receiving her BS degree in Nursing from North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in 1966, Carole was employed at Montefiore Hospital in New York City. She worked in various nursing and nurse supervisory capacities over the span of several years. Her career was briefly interrupted when she joined her husband, "the man she knew she was going to marry" from the first night she saw him, while he completed active military service. She was the first African American RN hired at Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport, Tennessee in 1968. She later worked at Family Practice at East Tennessee State Medical Center. Her attentive and skilled care earned her highest praise from patients, their families, and her professional peers.During their 48-year marriage, Bert and Carole created and maintained a happy, loving, and stable home. Many of those years were shared with their daughter and son, both of whom were the recipients of an extraordinary love affair that had no bounds. Her loving and generous spirit is dominant in the exceptional character and warmth of her children. As they will attest, a motherâ??s love is like no other.After her retirement from Indian Path Pavilion and Hospital in 2002, Carole enjoyed spending quality time with her family and friends. She loved to entertain and traveled between Kingsport, TN and Marietta, GA with every imaginable utensil, pot, pan, or gadget you could think of. She was the girl scout of culinary preparedness. She also was an avid reader and contributor to various charities that were dear to her. Carole thoroughly enjoyed all genres of music (Hall & Oates and Elton John probably top the list), and she was fully aware of and well informed about our political, national and international climate.Carole was a born nurturer, counselor, advocate, champion, and "Mom" to so many who are left to mourn her untimely passing. Her big heart, warm spirit, and generosity barely describe the essence of who Carole was. She loved life, fought fiercely through health crises over the years, and maintained a close and unwavering faith in God.Carole is survived by the love of her life, husband, Ethbert (Bert) S. Carr, Jr., daughter, Karen Y. Carr (Edward Houillon); son, Anthony (Tony) D. Carr, both of Norcross, GA; sister, Charlene Simmons Carr (Victor B. Carr, Sr.,) Greensboro, NC; brother, John R. Jones, Jr. (Marsha C. Jones), Louisville, KY; sister in law, Vaughnetta H. Carr (the late Wendell H. Carr, Sr.) Greensboro, NC; aunts, Elizabeth D. Bullock, Mabel D. Cole, Mattie D. Davis, Claudia Simmons, Nannie Carr, Ruth H. Gaskins, Florence Henderson, Juanita Carr, and Eliza S. Jones; uncles, Dallas Henderson, Alvin Henderson; nephew, Victor B. Carr, Jr. (Tina); niece, Erica C. Cole (Devon, Sr.). She was predeceased by her nephew Wendell H. Carr, Jr. Carole is also survived by four grand nieces, three grand nephews, many cousins, friends, caring neighbors, and grand dogs, Claude Boyer Carr, Deja Noein Carr, and Boi.If you desire, please consider making memorial contributions to St. Jude Childrenâ??s Hospital, the Susan G. Komen Foundation or the E.S. and V.H. Carr Family Scholarship at North Carolina A&T State University Foundation, Inc.