Carol Lynn Lovell

1950 - 2024

Carol Lynn Archer Lovell, 73, died on August 25, 2024, at home in Germantown, TN. She was born in Memphis, TN on October 29, 1950. Her husband of 52 years, Harland Blake Lovell, Jr., recently preceded her in death. Carol was also preceded in death by her parents, Hester Lynn Archer, Jr. and Dorothy Purnell Archer, as well as her sister, Janet Archer Odom.

She is survived by her daughter Rev. Ruth Lovell (Bo) Bradham, of Germantown, TN.

A lifelong Presbyterian, Carol was a member of Highland Heights Presbyterian for most of her life. In more recent years, she was a member of Cordova and Shady Grove Presbyterian churches and currently a member of Farmington Presbyterian. Perhaps one of the most meaningful legacies she leaves is a lifetime of service through the life of the church.

Carol taught Sunday School, facilitated arts and crafts for Vacation Bible School and served as the church's volunteer bookkeeper. As she often joked, she loved "making a joyful noise" beside her choir friends as an Alto. A Circle leader in Presbyterian Women, she was named as an Honorary Life Member of the Presbyterian Women by the Presbyterian Church (USA). She and Harland chaperoned and cooked for many youth trips. She had a heart for mission work and chaired Cordova's Mission Committee. And, she cheerfully shared her extraordinary gifts for sewing with the church whenever possible. She cross-stitched dozens of heirloom-quality ornaments for Highland Heights' Chrismon tree and sewed baptism and wedding gowns. Alongside dear friends in the knitting circle, she made shawls for Cordova's prayer shawl ministry and creatively fashioned countless children's Christmas pageant costumes. God consistently used her handiwork to bless others.

Carol graduated from Treadwell High School in Memphis, TN. She attended Lambuth College in Jackson, TN, and graduated from Memphis State University, now the University of Memphis, with a Bachelor of Science and Master's degrees in Education. While at Lambuth she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority. She proudly helped other alumnae establish the Theta Pi chapter of Alpha Xi Delta, installed in 1994, at Christian Brothers University in Memphis TN.

Her earliest "job" was working with her parents and maternal grandparents in their clothing store on Main St. in downtown Memphis. During her teens she worked at the Plaza Movie Theatre and Fox Photo, where she and Harland met. Carol worked for the Federal Government for a few years after they married, but soon returned to school full time to complete her degrees. After earning her M.Ed., she taught mathematics for nearly a decade for Memphis City Schools. Ultimately, she returned to a federal position, and worked nearly 20 years for the Social Security Administration until retirement in 2011.

Carol and Harland loved to travel, spoil their dogs, and rose gardening. They belonged to the Memphis & Dixie Rose Society and together won a gardening award at The American Rose Society National Convention. She loved horseback riding and Girl Scouts as a child. An accomplished baker, Carol was known for her homemade cinnamon rolls and pumpkin bread. She was an avid reader and Sudoku player. If Days of Our Lives had an award for its most loyal fan, Carol would have been a contender.

Despite having so many hobbies, however, it was her love for anything related to sewing that brought her the most joy. She handmade more than 25 quilts, cross-stitched many large pieces of art, including a full-sized Monopoly game board and several versions of the Memphis skyline, and smocked dresses for Ruth when she was a girl. She made Raggedy Ann and Andy dolls and an entire wardrobe's worth of Barbie doll clothes. During retirement Carol enjoyed being a member of the Memphis Cotton Patchers Quilt Guild and the volunteer service projects they adopted.

Most importantly, Carol was very proud of being Ruth's Mom.

She leaves one sister-in-law, Sandra Lovell Egbert of Memphis, TN and two brothers-in-law, Carey (Louise) Lovell of Houston, TX and James (Pat) Lovell of Sweetwater, TX. She leaves nieces, nephews, many other relatives and dear friends. She also leaves her two best friends from kindergarten, who have been like sisters for 69 years, Barbee Kuhl Halford and Laura Anne Fuller Whitmore.

Visitation will be held at Farmington Presbyterian Church in Germantown, TN, on Saturday, September 7 from 10am until noon, immediately followed by a Memorial Service at noon.

The family suggests that memorials may be sent to Pinecrest Camp & Retreat Center (P.O. Box 36, LaGrange, TN 38046 camppinecrest.org), the church, or another charity of one's choice.