Carolyn Ann Calloway

Carolyn Ann Coleman Calloway, 84, died peacefully at home on June 18, 2026. Born to Clayton and Jeanette Coleman in Tampa, Florida. Carolyn grew up in Safety Harbor and Clearwater. After graduating from Clearwater High School, she attended Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. While visiting her college roommate's hometown of LaFollette, Tennessee, Carolyn met the man who became her first husband, Joe Gross, with whom she raised three sons, Richard, Clark, and Adam.

In 1986, Carolyn married Bob Calloway, and they enjoyed an incredibly blessed marriage of almost forty years. Their most-treasured blessing was a blended family of five children and spouses, twelve grandchildren (and seven spouses), and one adorable great-granddaughter.

Carolyn worked for twenty-six years as a legal secretary at Hodges, Doughty and Carson, where she made deep and lasting friendships among the attorneys and staff. The surprise retirement party they gave her in 2011 remained one of her most cherished memories.

Carolyn's passion was music, primarily hymns and anthems of worship and praise. Over the years, Carolyn sang in the sanctuary choirs of West Hills Baptist Church, Cumberland Baptist Church, and First Baptist Church-Knoxville, as well as Golden Notes, the senior choir at First Baptist. Carolyn also loved listening to the music of a wide variety of artists, including Glen Campbell, Neil Diamond, Abba, David Phelps, and her favorite, Andrea Bocelli.

Carolyn was especially close to the small group from First Baptist that she and Bob joined when it began in 2012. In addition to meeting in each other's homes twice a month, Carolyn loved the group's annual fall trips to Cashiers, NC, where they enjoyed eating out and eating in, performing their own original plays, and playing Bible trivia.

She was a die-hard Big Orange fan, especially for men's basketball. Over a period of several years, she and Bob were in a group of seven friends who attended many of the Vols' home games together. While the basketball team was her favorite, she was never more elated over a Big Orange triumph than when the baseball Vols won the 2024 College World Series.

Carolyn was preceded in death by her parents, Jeanette and Clayton Coleman; brother, Richard Paul Coleman; sisters, Barbara McLain and Susan Coleman; son, Adam Gross; brother-in-law, John Calloway; sisters-in-law, Susan Calloway and Sherry Calloway; nephew, Bob Toevs; and niece, Barbara Ann McLain.

Carolyn is survived by husband, Bob Calloway; sons, Richard (Vickie) Gross and Clark (Alicia) Gross; Bob's daughters, Lee (Greg) Meadows and Chrissy (Jimmy) Johnston; daughter-in-law, Liza Gross; grandsons, Benjie (Mandy) Gross, Josh Gross, Nathaniel (Ilan Timerman) Gross, Ryan (Perra) Johnston, John (Jessie) Meadows, and Gray Johnston; granddaughters, Nora Gross, Georgia (Seraphim) Therianos, Eden Gross, Lindsey (Boone) Smith, Bethany (Blake) Delaney, and Callie Johnston; great-granddaughter, Sadie Blake Delaney; brother, David (Cheryl) Coleman; sisters, Lisa Coleman and Becky McGuire; brother-in-law, Joe (Annette) Calloway; sister-in-law, Ellen Bush; nieces, Jeanie (Bob Scheur) Kelly, Debbie (Mark) Tenk, Jess Calloway, and Cate Calloway; and nephews, Woody (Christine) Calloway, Mason (Leigh) Calloway, Tavier DeVille; and many great-nieces and great-nephews.

A celebration of Carolyn's life will be held at First Baptist Church of Knoxville, 510 W. Main St., on Friday, June 26, 2026 at 1:30 PM, Dr. David Crocker officiating. Receiving of friends will follow the service and will take place in Trentham Hall at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carolyn's memory to the music program at First Baptist Church of Knoxville.

The family extends special thanks to Amedisys for providing hospice services, primarily through our extraordinary nurse, Elizabeth.

Online condolences may be left at www.berrylynnhurst.com for the Calloway family.