Caroline B. Kethley

Nancy Caroline Burks Kethley, 81, passed away on Sunday, September 27, 2020 with her beloved family by her side.  She was born February 7, 1939 at Emory hospital in Decatur, GA to Henry Blair Burks and Nancy Carolyn Wallace Burks.

After graduating from Decatur High School in Decatur, GA, she attended Mercer University in Macon, GA where she was a member of Phi Mu sorority.  On June 2, 1962, the First Baptist Church of Decatur celebrated the marriage of Caroline to Thomas William “Bill” Kethley, Jr. (high school sweethearts).  They shared almost fifty-three years of marriage before his March 2015 death.

Caroline had a lifelong love of history.  She delighted in sharing memories of growing up in “old” Decatur and riding Atlanta’s trolley cars.  In fact, her maternal grandmother and a very good writer friend named Margaret Mitchell of “Gone With the Wind” fame would host annual tea parties to celebrate the blooming of the first rose, hydrangea or favorite flower in their gardens.  Fernbank Science Center now owns the maternal grandparent’s home and its property where Caroline spent many cherished hours.  The family has a scrapbook containing newspaper photos and stories of parties held in this home.

Her father was employed by the Southern Railway Company which provided train travel for his family to visit historical sites throughout the South and Northeast.  Bill and Caroline continued this fascination of United States travel with their four children visiting State and National Parks as well as amusement parks.  Visiting the nation’s battlefields and historic villages/towns/cities/ added to Caroline’s fascination with genealogical research of her ancestors.  She was a devoted member and officer of the National Society Colonial Dames of the 17th Century Thomas Miller Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Colonists Bartram Trail Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Elijah Clarke Chapter, United Daughters of the Confederacy Laura Rutherford Chapter #88, and National Society Southern Dames of America Virginia Society.

No matter the position she was hired to perform, excellence resulted.  Getting along with everyone in all age groups became her trademark.  A welcoming smile and warm greeting were given to anyone who entered the front office at the original Gaines School Road Elementary School when she was School Secretary. As Office Manager at the Farm bureau on Lexington Road, there was never a complaint in the fifteen-year employment.  Many customers became family friends in her tenure as Consultant for the Mary Kay Cosmetic Company.  Caroline was a People Person and she confronted each situation with poise and grace as a Steel Magnolia and Southern Lady should. The word “stranger” was not to be found in her vocabulary nor her home.  She became the Touchstone to those who had the good fortune to be in her presence.

Multi-talented best describes Caroline as she was profoundly creative which has been exhibited in china painting, sewing, paper weight collecting, commemorative state plates, antiques, cooking, baking, crafting, and helping compile and publish cookbooks for fundraisers.  The list of this true Renaissance Woman’s skills has no end.  Not only did she decorate the Kethley home for the many holidays and celebrations, but she usually designed and constructed the decorations.  Sharing patterns for ornaments, teaching craft classes without charge and giving the products away were common procedure for her.  Caroline had a giving and unselfish heart.  Her love of entertaining, especially bridal showers, involved the use of china tea cups and dessert plates hand painted in colorful flower motifs by herself, her mother, and maternal grandmother in the late 1950s and early 1960s shortly before her mother died of cancer.

Being a girl Scout Leader was Caroline’s passion.  It would be appropriate to call her “The Juliet Gordon Low” of Athens according to a teacher friend of hers.  Caroline challenged this friend many years ago to start her own girl Scout Troop which she finally did after much thought.  Ten years after the challenge, all eight Scouts attained the Gold Award which is the highest award for Girl Scouts. It is comparable to the Eagle Scout Award for Boy Scouts. Some of those eight Scouts have teen-age daughters now in Girl Scouts and some of the eight are Girl Scout leaders!   Caroline also assisted Bill with Boy Scout Troop 76 and he reciprocated with her Troop as their daughter was a Girl Scout.

Caroline was active in positions of leadership with her church, her children’s schools, and community organizations while working full time jobs.  She and Bill supported the Head Start Program, Special Olympics, the Clarke Central High School Band Boosters, the Cedar Shoals High School Baseball and Football Teams, Satterfield Little League, Cedar Creek Swim Team, Green Acres Baptist Church and numerous community organizations.  Several Christmas parades witnessed Caroline wearing her colorful clown costume with the goofy wig.  She was a charter member of the Classic Ladies in Red of The Red Hat Society.  In her spare time, she played Mahjong, Bridge, planted flowers, enjoyed the bird feeders and cheered for the Georgia Bulldogs.

Not only did Caroline possess a strong faith, she lived it.  The love of Jesus Christ as her Lord and Savior could be seen by those in close association with her.  The power of prayer was utmost in her life.  It was an honor to be included on her daily prayer list.  You never left her home or ended a phone conversation without hearing her say “I love you.”  Until health deemed otherwise, she was an active member of Green Acres Baptist Church and its Truth-seekers Sunday School Class in Athens, GA.  She will be eternally missed by those who were blessed by her unconditional love.

Caroline was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, step-mother Katherine Morrison Burks, father-in-law and mother-in-law Professor Thomas William Kethley, Sr and Jane Moore Kethley, brother-in-law Dr. John Bryan Kethley, and son-in-law Duane Bentley Brownlow.  She is survived by her greatest treasures (the four children): Thomas William Kethley lll, James Blair Kethley (wife Sheila Odom Kethley), Nancy Caroline Kethley Brownlow, and John Read Kethley.  She is survived by the grandchildren who affectionately called her “Me-maw”:  Rebecca Ide (Jeremy), Consualo Ptacek (Chris), Drake Funderburk (Nastassia), Ansley Kethley, Blair Kethley and Jocelyn Kethley.  One infant great grandson survives.  Also surviving are sisters-in-law Dorothy Kethley Allen and Judith Kethley Hudgens; nephew Randolph Preston Shaw (Christine) and niece Julia Shaw Misenhimer as well as several great nephews and nieces.  Countless friends, whom she dearly loved, will forever miss her jolly chuckle.

Graveside services will be held on Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 11 AM Athens Memory Gardens located 5195 Lexington Road Athens, GA 30605. The Kethley Family has entrusted Lord and Stephens East to handle the arrangements 706-546-1587.

Instead of flowers, those desiring to make a memorial gift are asked to make a donation/s to

Georgia School for the Deaf Alumni Association Inc. (GSDAA)

Attn Bentley Brownlow Memorial

PO Box 76, Cave Spring, GA 30124

Athens Area Humane Society

1781 Mars Hill Road, Watkinsville, GA 30677

Lord & Stephens, East, Athens, GA is in charge arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com