Martha Ann Smothers Carroll, 93, of Normal, Illinois, died at home on March 19, 2021.
Interment rites will be held on July 30 at 10:00 a.m. at the family burial plot in the Bells
cemetery with The Reverend Christine Hopkins officiating. Friends of the family are welcome
to attend.
Martha was born April 5, 1927, the only child of Bonnie and E. Carmack Smothers. “Bunt,” the
nickname given her by her father, grew up in Bells. With the love of her parents, aunts, uncles,
and cousins she learned the importance of family, which stayed with her all her life. Her cousin
Joe Williams lives in Bells and her cousin Bettye Butler lives in Brownsville.
She attended local schools where she developed her passion for books and reading. Her high
school years were those of World War II, which impacted her throughout her life.
She completed a two-year degree at Freed-Hardman college in Henderson, then enrolled at
Southwestern (now Rhodes) in Memphis where she received a BA in English. She was a
member of the Chi Omega sorority. After graduation, she married Conrad E. Carroll in 1949. He
died in 1980.
She taught high school English in Kentucky and Illinois. She attended Illinois State University
in the summers and obtained an MA in English.
Martha was active in the Episcopal Church where she served as a Vestry member, Lector,
Chalice Bearer, and on the Outreach Committee.
She loved to read and paint. She traveled extensively, with her favorite place being the island of
Crete. And she was devoted to her many dogs through the years. At the time of her death her
one cat, Alex, stayed in the hospital bed with her.
Martha is survived by her children: Christine Hopkins (Mike) of Urbana Illinois, John W. Carroll
(Valerie) of Bloomington, Illinois, Kevin E. Carroll (Tammy) of Bloomington, Illinois, eight
grandchildren: Matthew Hopkins (Amanda), Carolyn Hopkins, Grace Meyer (Brady), Lauren
Carroll, Robert Carroll (Catherine), Patrick Carroll, Colin Carroll, Desiree Carroll, and ten great
grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Bells Elementary School Library, 4547 Hwy.
88, Bells TN 38006. The library is named for Martha’s cousin, Charles (Butch) Williams, who
proceeded her in death.
April 19, 2024
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