Carole Louise Pope Peterson, of Jackson, Mississippi, passed from this life into God’s presence on Monday, June 30, 2025, at the age of 80. She was born in Jacksonville, North Carolina to Sarah and Samuel Pope, Jr., a military family who found their way home to their deep roots in Marion County where Carole graduated from Columbia High School. She also received a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Southern Mississippi. Carole has lived in Jackson since 1980, where she met her husband, Stephen. She worked for many years as a senior secretary at the University of Mississippi School of Medicine. Carole had many interests and she and her husband enjoyed bird watching, traveling, classic movies, and especially enjoyed movies and novels with a mystery plot. Carole loved music and was an avid supporter of the theater and the arts. She hosted ballet dancers from all over the world while they were in Jackson for the International Ballet Competition. Carole will be remembered for her sweet, bubbly personality and her great sense of humor and wit. She was known to be quick on her feet, sassy, stubborn, and you never had to wonder what she was thinking. Carole had a great outlook on life and everyone who met her was instantly drawn to her. Even through her final weeks of suffering, it was Carole that gave hope and comfort to her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents and Carole is survived by her husband of 43 years, Stephen W. Peterson; two sisters, Jane Pope Curtis and Margaret Pope McMichael (Perry); a brother, Samuel Pope, III (Susan); a nephew and five nieces, Joseph Curtis (Sherri), Carolee Curtis Johnson (Billy Don), Jennifer Pope Wagner (Russell), Janna Curtis Hilburn (Ronnie), Hannah Pope, and Hillary Pope; and numerous great-nieces and great-nephews.
There will be funeral service for Carole at Colonial Funeral Home in Columbia on Monday, July 7, 2025, at 2:00pm. Friends may visit with the family from 1:00pm until service time. She will be laid to rest in Woodlawn Cemetery in Columbia.
