Donald Bruce Carr

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Monday, April 13, 2015 at Collier-Butler Chapel for Donald Bruce Carr, 79, of Gadsden, who passed away, Wednesday, April 8, 2015. Brother Joey Jones will officiate. Burial will be at Williams-Southside Memorial Park. Collier-Butler Funeral and Cremation Services is directing.

Mr. Carr was born in DeKalb County, Alabama, on August, 20th 1935; he spent his young life on a sprawling farm in Valley Head where he learned the value of hard work (and how to mediate between his two younger siblings). These skills helped him to persuade the love of his life, Valencia Bohannon, to marry him. He often remarked, “I don’t know how I convinced her to marry me. I wasn’t good enough.” We all beg to differ. With the girl of his dreams in his grasp, he decided to take a chance by joining the Laborer’s International Union of North America (L.I.U.N.A.) whom sent him to train for six weeks at Harvard University. After entering the program, he dedicated over 30 years of service to their organization because he believed in their mission to aide and represent middle-class workers. Over the years, he was a recipient of multiple awards that attributed his strength of character and moral integrity. On the weekends, our dad didn’t hunt, fish, or golf: his hobby was total devotion to his family, faith, and friends. Bruce and Valencia joined the congregation of Whorton Bend Baptist Church over 40 years ago. He spent his whole life serving in various roles: Sunday school teacher, business administrator, deacons, etc. In retirement, his roles only increased as his love for the congregation grew. Clergyman Robert South once stated, “If there be any truer measure of a man than by what he does, it must be by what he gives.” Truly, he gave us his whole heart, everyday. He fiercely protected his loved ones and never missed an opportunity to come to their aide. He was our angel, our provider, and our role-model: self-less to the end.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Howard Carr and Bernice Maxwell Carr; his wife, Valencia Bohannon Carr; and his daughter, Angela Carr.

He is survived by his brother, Ronald Carr (Rebecca Carr); his sister, Peggy Carr Outlaw (Charlie Outlaw); his sons Bryan Carr (Shirley Carr) and Michael Carr (Lisa Carr); his grand children Amy Clark, Amber Berry-Moore (Gabe Moore), Noah Carr, Reagan Carr, and Tyler Carr (Tiffany Carr); his great grandchildren, Nicoli Clark, Bailey Rogers, Charlie Bruce Moore, Brodey Carr, Braden Carr, Harley Carr; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Pallbearers will be: Scott Mayo, Rick Johnson, Jimmy Jones, Brent Lawley, Todd Clough, and Dick Edwards.

Honorary Pallbearers are James Vickery and Ted Cook.

Special Thanks to Pastor Joey Jones and the congregation of Whorton Bend Baptist who have given unlimited support; we also extend a special recognition to the care-workers of Lawley Hospice who provided compassionate care and comfort in our time of need.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Whorton Bend Baptist Church.

The family will accept friends from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the funeral home.