Carlton Norris Hart III

Carlton N. Hart III passed away on August 14, 2025 in Tampa Florida. He was 86 years old. He demonstrated amazing strength, sound mind and a positive attitude while battling heart related medical issues for several years.

He was born in Hattiesburg, Mississippi on May 4, 1939 to Carlton N. Hart II and Frances Rogers Hart of Collins, Mississippi. He was raised in Collins until he was 8 years old, when his family relocated to Lakeland, Florida in 1947. However, as his extended family still lived in Collins he would visit each summer through his teen years. He recalled fond memories of life in this small south Mississippi town where everyone knew everyone else, and where the local men would gather at his grandfather’s barber shop to discuss the issues of the day.

He attended Lakeland schools, graduating from Lakeland High School (where he had the good fortune of meeting his future wife Mary Annis). During this time Carlton worked summers at the phosphate mines in central Florida, where he earned enough money to afford his twin passions of slalom water skiing on Lake Hollingsworth and riding around Lakeland in his red Jeepster.

After high school Carlton studied engineering and mathematics at the University of Florida (Gainesville) and the University of South Florida (Tampa), where he earned a BS in mathematics in 1964 as a member of USF’s charter class. He then earned a master’s degree in mathematics on an academic scholarship from the University of Miami (Coral Gables). He then returned to USF as a faculty member in the mathematics department where he taught from 1966-1973 while completing the coursework for his doctorate. Between 1973 and 1980 he worked as a stockbroker and taught part time at Florida Southern College and Hillsborough Community College. In 1980 he returned to academia full-time at the University of Central Florida (Orlando) where he taught computer science and math-related courses until his retirement. In retirement Carlton focused on his love of stock market investing, golf, Buccaneers football, dogs and his devoted wife Mary. He enjoyed many good times with Mary’s extended family. He also loved a good plate of fried oysters and listening to Southern Gospel music.

Carlton is predeceased by his parents (Carlton Hart, Jr. and Frances Rogers Hart) and his twin sisters Tommie Hart Somerfield and Peggy Hart Ball. In addition to his wife Mary Annis Hart, Carlton is survived by his daughter Carla Jeanette Hart (Fort McCoy, FL) and grandson Dylan J. Gray (Lakeland, FL). He is also survived by his cousins Sue H. Godbold (Madison, MS) and John Sharp Gatewood, Jr. (Homosassa, FL); nieces Teresa Allen (Gulfport, MS), Karen Ball Stroud (Gulfport, MS), and Susan Cafisco (Gainesville, FL), and nephews Richard Ball (Ellisville, MS) and Tommy Ball (Gulfport, MS).

A memorial service and reception for Carlton will be held at 4 P.M. on Thursday, September 18, 2025 at Bayshore Presbyterian Church in Tampa, FL.

In lieu of flowers, Memorial contributions may be made to the Carlton Hart III USF Alumnus and Educators Memorial Scholarship. Donations may be made by check payable to the USF Foundation, c/o the Office of Donor Relations, ALC100, 4202 E. Fowler Avenue, Tampa, FL 33620, or online at https://giving.usf.edu/online/gift/f/420273.