Carolyn Stuart Graves

After 99 and a half remarkable years, Carolyn Stuart Graves entered her eternal heavenly home on August 3, 2026. She will be remembered as someone who was quick with a smile or a joke, told great stories and was full of life and energy. Carolyn was known as a devoted daughter, wife, sister, mother and grandmother.

Carolyn was born in Covington County, MS on December 6,1926 to Myrna Allbritton Robinson and George Baxter Robinson. The oldest of three girls, Carolyn and her sisters were very close in age and always the closest of friends and remained that way forever. She was a Summa Cum Laude graduate of Mississippi State College for Women (The W) in 1948, receiving a degree in Home Economics. Carolyn’s first job was as the Home Economist in Lafayette County, MS. She taught Home Economics at various Mississippi schools and later received a Master’s in Education from Mississippi State University. With the additional degree, she taught elementary school and eventually became the elementary school Principal at Raleigh in 1964. Countless students and parents were blessed by Mrs. Stuart’s decades as principal there. She also taught piano and voice lessons from her home to many, many children and adults in Raleigh. Generations in the area loved and admired her for her devotion and talent as a teacher and as an administrator and for her sweet spirit.

Coming from a strong musical family, Carolyn played piano for school programs, church and for enjoyment. Her other great love was plants and flowers. She could grow anything. Flowers, fruit trees, shrubs and vines all flourished under her care for seven decades. However, faith and family were the hallmarks of Carolyn’s life. Through good times and bad she held tightly to her savior Jesus. She loved the scriptures and how music tuned her soul to praise, comfort and worship.

Carolyn met her future husband when he literally knocked her off her feet. She was entering the room for a BSU meeting at Mississippi State when a handsome young man, Prentice Stuart, came running out of the room right into Carolyn, knocking her to the floor. With an apology, he graciously helped her up and then asked for a date. They were married on November 5,1948 and raised three children in Raleigh. After the death of Prentice, Carolyn found love again with a man who was already a friend, Gilbert Hayes Graves. They married in 2007.

Carolyn and both her husbands were active members of their local church. Goodwater Baptist, White Oak Baptist, and for most of her life at First Baptist Raleigh where she played piano and directed choir, taught women’s Sunday school and helped plan and put on VBS for many years. When she and Prentice moved to Brandon, Brandon Baptist was their church home. Seeking a smaller place to worship, she and Hayes joined Meadow Grove Baptist. After the death of her second husband, Carolyn moved to Madison to live with her son Jim and his family. She jumped right in and was a regular at Broadmoor Baptist Sunday school and worship. She and some other retired ladies regularly assisted the office staff on Friday mornings for several years. Her 90th birthday party was celebrated in the beautiful parlor at Broadmoor with family and friends.

Carolyn is survived by sister Hazel Robinson Dunnam of Madison, son George Stuart (Linda) and preceded by former wife (Cheryl) of Raleigh, son Jim Stuart (Faith) of Madison, and grandchildren Tracy Stuart Troth of Pearl, William (Bill) Stuart (Greska) of Smith County, Rosalyn Horn Lee (Joseph) of Highpoint, North Carolina, and Matthew Stuart (Caroline) of Birmingham, Alabama. She has 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren and numerous beloved nieces and nephews, great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews. Family was very dear to Carolyn, and she considered her large family a great blessing.

She is preceded in death by her husband John Prentice Stuart and husband Gilbert Hayes Graves, sister Dot Tramel, daughter Debbie Horn Martella, daughter-in-law Cheryl Stuart, and grandson in-law Darrell Troth.

Visitation will be Friday, August 7 from 5:00 to 6:30 at Ott and Lee funeral home in Brandon. A visitation at Goodwater Baptist Church in Smith County will begin at 1:00 on Saturday, August 8 followed by a Celebration of Life at 2:00. Interment will be at the Goodwater Cemetery.

The family wishes to express the deepest appreciation to St. Cathrine’s Village Marion Hall and Tuscany Hall nurses and staff. She was greatly loved by all there and she flourished living with such amazing care and attention. They also appreciate the outstanding care provided by Gentiva Hospice over the last few months.