Carol Merritt

Published 12:00 am Saturday, June 28, 2008

NATCHEZ – Services for Carol Merritt, 56, who died Wednesday, June 25, 2008, at her residence, will be at noon Sunday, June 29, 2008, at Zion Hill No. 1 Missionary Baptist Church.
Burial will follow at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery in Pegram, Tenn.
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to noon Sunday at the church.
Mrs. Merritt was born Jan. 5, 1952, in Nashville, Tenn., the daughter of Clifton Hayes Sr. and Armitta Wonder Hayes.
Carol was an eight grade social studies teacher at Robert Lewis Middle School, where she was a former Teacher of the Year. She was a 1972 pledgee of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority at Tennessee State University, and was an active member of Zeta Delta Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., of Natchez, where she was awarded the Silver Star, 2008. She was an active member and past president of Zion Hill Missionary ministry, Sunday school teacher and a member of the welcoming committee ministry. She was also a former Girl Scout troop leader.
Carol was a dedicated educator who loved her students and co-workers.
She was preceded in death by her parents; one brother, Clifton Hayes Jr.; and one sister, Helen Jordan.
Survivors include her husband, Charles Merritt Sr.; one son, Charles Merritt Jr. of Portland, Ore.; one daughter, Cresa Merritt Groce and son-in-law, Torrey Groce; one brother, William N. Hayes; two sisters, Ann Otey and the Rev. Patricia Brock and husband, Michael, all of Nashville; two brothers-in-law, John L. Merritt and wife, Alicia, both of Abingdon, Md., and Albert Merritt Jr. of Nashville; five sisters-in-law, Loraine Vaughn and husband, Harry, both of Aiken, S.C., Rita A. Smith, Regina Perry and husband, Michael, and Brenda D. Merritt, all of Nashville; and special friends, Soror Brenda Jarvis, Rosena Profice and husband, Willie, Dr. Lee George Campbell and wife, Merline, Clarence Love and wife, Dr. Sherman, Donnell Newsome and wife, Thelma, all of Natchez, LaMona McCarter, William Corley and wife, Melba, of Nashville, Randolph Hamlin and wife, Mary, both of Little Rock, Ark., Joe High and wife, Gloria, both of Ecru, and Stanley Shepard and wife, Billie, both of Glenn Heights, Texas.
Pallbearers will be Dr. Lee George Campbell, Anthony Heidelberg, Tony Fields, Ralph Payne Jr., Donnell Newsome, Fred Fuller, Bill Woods and Fred Marsalis.
A memorial service will follow Tuesday, July 1, 2008, at Temple Baptist Church in Nashville.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Jack Rodriguez and staff, Dr. Ed Daly III and Hospice Ministries for their services.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to God’s Angelic Warriors, 324 Linton Ave., Natchez, MS 39120.