Carol Ann Gilreath

Mrs. Carol Ann Gilreath, age 78, of Flowery Branch passed away Wednesday, January 13, 2021 at her residence, surrounded by family.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 18, 2021 in the Chapel of Memorial Park South Funeral Home with interment following at Memorial Park South Cemetery.  Rev. Dr. Lon Shoopman will officiate.  The family will receive friends 1:30 – 2:00 p.m., Monday, January 18, 2021 at Memorial Park South Funeral Home.

Mrs. Gilreath was born March 7, 1942 to the late Walton William & Mary Louise Baxter in Moss Point, Mississippi.  Carol taught 5th or 6th grade elementary school in: Orange County, FL; Okaloosa County, FL; Walton County, FL; Hancock County, MS; Pearl River County, MS; and St. Tammany Parrish, LA.  She was the President of The Teachers Union in Picayune, Mississippi School System and led a successful statewide strike for higher wages for teachers. Carol earned her Masters Degree in Counseling at Southeastern University of Louisiana, and in that capacity assisted a number of local families in Tennessee.

While a member of First Baptist Church of Madisonville, TN, Carol partnered with other members to begin a food pantry ministry. At the onset of the program, Carol would wait up to 3 hours each Saturday morning for possibly one family in need. As the program became more widely known to area residents, the outreach grew to over 100 families needing assistance  She served as the Program Director, but her passion was being a prayer partner to those in need.  She started and directed the WMU program in several churches throughout her life, along with being a Sunday School teacher.  She started the Christmas Shoe Box program at First Baptist Church of Madisonville, TN. The first year she delivered 5 boxes to the collection center, currently the program has grown to over 150 boxes being collected.  She was an active participant of the Prayer Chain.  She went on a mission trip to China. Her goal, which she accomplished while there, was to teach young girls about Jesus.  She was the driving force behind the Lottie Moon offering at First Baptist Church of Madisonville, TN.  She had a love for teaching children about Christ through a puppetry ministry she and another member of the church created. They would perform shows at many local schools.  She was a member of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County.

Mrs. Gilreath is survived by her husband, Franklin “Pete” Gilreath; daughter, Alicia Gilreath Pritchard; son-in-law, Gregory Pritchard; grandson, Aiden Pritchard; brother, Walter William Baxter, II; sisters, Kathy DeFlippo and Judy Polhamus; and several nieces & nephews. 

Memorial Park South Funeral Home, 4121 Falcon Parkway, Flowery Branch, Georgia 30542 is in charge of arrangements.  Send on-line condolences to www.memorialparkfuneralhomes.com.