Carroll (Helen) Emerson

In that still, pre-dawn hour of Valentine's Day, February 14, 2017, in her hometown of San Antonio, our beloved Carroll peacefully let go her last breath in this world. Carroll enjoyed an active 75 years. The onset of chronic illness at first hardly slowed her down, but eventually sapped her strength, and Carroll was ready when her Lord called her home.

Carroll was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 5, 1941. She was the first child of Millard D. Emerson and Helen Katherine Beech, who cherished Carroll and her brother Patrick for all their days. The family shared a two-bedroom duplex with the children's grandmother, and though they were poor, Carroll recalled never wanting for anything. Helen and Millard were devout Baptists, and by example instilled a lasting faith and deep love for God in their children. While often shy and slow to build friendships, Carroll had many friends and sorority sisters at Memphis's Messick High School, where she graduated in 1959.

Carroll started college in Memphis, but soon fell in love with a handsome Texan in school at NAS Memphis. Once Mrs. John F. McCormick, Jr., she chose marriage and motherhood as her main career.

Carroll had many other careers. As Executive Secretary at the San Antonio International Airport, she was on the red carpet committee that saw off President and Mrs. John F. Kennedy on their flight to Dallas on the day before his assassination, November 21, 1963. As Executive Secretary of the University of Texas School of Nursing, she was shocked by the sound of Charles Whitman's gunshots from the watchtower on that dreadful day in 1966. When Carroll later found herself divorced, with four daughters under the age of ten, she began a new career as a construction bookkeeper for Hendry Investments. She was proud of her next (and founding) position as accountant for D.R. Noble Construction. Carroll spent several years as a legal secretary while in North Carolina with her second husband, where she began her final career with the U.S. Postal Service. Carroll returned to San Antonio, and continued to take great pride in her service as a Postal Carrier until her retirement. In retirement, Carroll remained active, and had time to finally pursue her many interests, including painting, gardening, and reading. It was a rare day that she was stumped and did not finish both the daily crosswords, and her family loved (trying to) beat her to the answers at Jeopardy. She was an avid and loyal San Antonio Spurs fan, and rarely missed a game. Carroll took great pleasure in her friendships at The Fellowship of San Antonio church, where she was proud to be a founding member.

Through every career and life change, Carroll was, first and foremost, a mother. Her greatest achievement was raising four independent, loving daughters. Carroll's work ethic, compassion, and love of learning set an example to which they could aspire. Those girls became a nurse, an attorney, an accountant, and a psychologist, because of her. Those women are forever grateful for their mother's loving sacrifices, and for the wisdom gained at her feet.

Carroll was preceded in death by her parents, Millard and Helen Emerson, and her eldest daughter, Lisa McCormick, and looked forward to meeting them again in heaven. Many family, friends, and church fellows will dearly miss Carroll. Those include her daughters, Tracey McCormick and Jana McCormick of San Antonio, and Kelley McCormick, and her husband Dennis McCormick of Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Carroll's five grandchildren are John (Jack) F. McCormick, III, Emily Pearson, Adara McCormick, Logan McCormick, and Marshall McCormick. Carroll's brother Patrick Emerson, and wife Barbara, of Memphis, Tennessee, and her nephews Bradley Emerson of Memphis, and Ryan Emerson, and wife Lora, of Concord, North Carolina and their children Roma, Laken, Deklan.

Flowers may be sent to Porter Loring Chapel North. Those who desire, in lieu of flowers, may send memorial contributions to St. Jude's Children's Hospital in memory of Carroll Emerson.

A memorial service will be held this Sunday, February 19, 2017, at 2:00 p.m., in the Prayer Garden of the Fellowship of San Antonio, 23755 Canyon Golf Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78258. A reception will follow at the Fellowship Hall of the Fellowship of San Antonio.