Carol Elizabeth Braden Houston, 66, of Tunnel Hill, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Monday, January 4, 2016.
She was born in Oneida, TN in 1949 and was preceded in death by her parents, Doris Doreen Duncan Brewster and Ralph Edward Brewster of Oneida, TN; and brother, Larry Allen Brewster of Dalton, GA. Carol had a large and loving family.
Carol graduated from Lincoln Memorial University and received her Master’s in Social Work from UTC. She moved to Whitfield County where she taught Special Education at NWHS and then became a director and houseparent at Cherokee Boys Estates providing loving care for children whose parents were not able to care for them.
She became the Director of the Infant Pre-school Council whose mission was to help pregnant and parenting teens learn to care for themselves and their children and encourage these young women to further their own education in order to provide the best possible life for their children. She began Camp Le Papillon in the summer of 1987 to provide a week-long recreational learning experience for these young families and this camp still continues each summer.
She spent most of her life helping other people. She was a tireless advocate for social change and worked on numerous political campaigns to help the underprivileged including helping pass legislation to have daycare put in the public school systems in Georgia. Carol was proud to have been the first female to join the local Kiwanis club.
After leaving the Infant Pre-School Council she provided assistance for HIV/AIDS clients to help them live independently in the community. She was a pioneer in her field of social work the benefited everyone whose lives she touched.
She loved her Tunnel Hill United Methodist Church family and her big heart showed in her devotion to everyone she cared about. She was loved and will be missed greatly by her many friends and loved ones and the people’s life’s she has touched through her many charitable endeavors. Her spirit will live on in all of our hearts.
She is survived by her devoted husband, Ron Houston; son, Kenin Braden both of Tunnell Hill, GA; daughter, Nicki Braden of Dayton, TN; two grandsons, Henry and Noah; sister, Cathy Newberry and husband Ernie Newberry, Jr; nieces and nephews, Elizabeth Mckenna and Husband Dave, Joe, Sam, Charleigh and Sonora, Robert, Erin, Ryan and Katelyn all from Crawfordville, FL, Will of Westfield, MA, Cassie Tindell Brewer, Husband Oby and their infant daughter Campbell ; brother, Glen and wife Kristie Brewster, wife Kristie; and sister, Lois Tindell, husband Donald of Chattanooga.
A celebration of life Service will be held at Tunnel Hill United Methodist Church on Saturday, Jan. 9 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jay Tenny and Dr. Mike Shearon officiating.
Visitation for Carol Braden Houston will be at Ponders Melrose Chapel on Friday, Jan. 8 from 5-8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donation be made to THUMC Disability Fund, 121 N. Varnell RD, Tunnel Hill, GA 30755.
Ponders Melrose Chapel, Dalton, has charge of the arrangements.