Carolyn Hendrie Toole

Carolyn Toole, beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend to so many, passed quietly into the presence of the Savior she greatly loved and longed to see, on Monday, July 14, 2025. She leaves behind a beautiful legacy of love, compassion, and service. She was 89 years old. Carolyn is survived by her beloved husband of 66 years Albert (Bud), her son Jay, and two grandsons, Jake and Conor. She was predeceased by her son James (Jim) and his wife Patti. She is missed tremendously by all who have known and loved her.

Carolyn was born in Houston, Texas on December 3, 1936 to James and Gladys Hendrie. After High School she attended the University of Texas, where she graduated with a Masters Degree in Special Education. It was there she met her future husband, Albert (Bud) and they were married on June 13, 1959. They lived in Dallas, Texas for several years before moving to Jacksonville, Florida. Both Carolyn and Bud came to faith in Jesus Christ in the early years of their marriage, a decision that would come to define who they were and what they did for rest of their lives. When God blessed them with two sons, Jay and Jim, Carolyn became the consummate mother, along with her other callings as wife to Bud, servant to Christ, and a blessing to all who experienced her love and service in the church and in the community.

Along the way, God called Bud and Carolyn to a life of mission work around the world, especially in the Soviet Union, both before and after the fall of the Soviet Empire. Along with the busyness of Bud’s career in the finance industry and Carolyn’s duties as a wife, mother. and volunteer in the church and the community, Bud and Carolyn began traveling overseas to minister to pastors and leaders in Eastern Europe and Russia. Carolyn would travel with Bud when she was able, and occasionally the trips would become a family affair with their sons accompanying them.

In the early seventies, God used Bud and Carolyn to help start a new church in Jacksonville called Christian Family Chapel. Both served in critical leadership roles in the fledgling church, and have continued to serve in the church over the years. In the mid-eighties they were led to help plant a second church, Westside Chapel. Carolyn was instrumental in founding a new organization, Women for Christ, in Jacksonville, as well as a number of women’s Bible Studies and discipleship groups. She was known as a warm, compassionate and wise counselor of women, a deep and thoughtful teacher of God’s Word, and a humble and skilled servant of all. Her contribution to the kingdom of Christ during her years of service have left behind a rich legacy for all to benefit. Her deepest desire for all she met was that each one would come to know and love the Christ whom she knew and loved. We rejoice that Carolyn is now forever in Christ’s presence, experiencing the fullness of His joy and love.

A memorial service will be held on Friday, July 16 at 11:00 AM at Christian Family Chapel in Mandarin. All are welcome to attend. A reception will follow the service. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested that donations be made to Community Hospice (community hospice.org) or Redemptive Leadership International ( rli.world).