Lura Carroll Southard

Lura Jane Carroll Southard, age 90, of Eden, North Carolina, passed away on August 3, 2025, leaving behind a legacy as a dedicated teacher, minister, and loving mother. In describing her faith in an autobiographical sketch in young adulthood, Lura said “I have learned that love is more contagious by example,” and that’s how she lived her life.

Lura was born on June 27, 1935, in High Point, North Carolina, to the late Felix Alvin Carroll, Sr. and Addie Rozella Doss Carroll. She was preceded in death by her husband Rev. Marvin James Southard (1999) and older brother John William Carroll, Sr. (2005).

Lura leaves behind a loving family, including her daughter Brenda Carol Southard Keenan and her husband John of Williamston, North Carolina, and her son James Gregory (Jim) Southard and his wife Kimberly (Kim) of Fort Collins, Colorado, as well as four grandchildren, three great-grandchildren, and two step great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her brother Felix Alvin Carroll, Jr. (wife Carol) of Davidson, North Carolina.

Lura graduated as salutatorian from Jamestown High School in 1952 at the age of 16 and earned her B.A. in Elementary Education with highest honors from Guilford College three years later in 1955. She and Marvin were married just after her graduation in 1955 and went on to enjoy 44 years together before his death in 1999.

In her high school and college years, Lura considered Deep River Friends Meeting in High Point, North Carolina to be her home church, and it still holds a special place for her. She then worshiped and served in several Southern Baptist churches where her husband Marvin pastored in Virginia and North Carolina, before finding her spiritual home at First Baptist Church of Eden, North Carolina for the past almost 60 years.

Lura used her love of teaching and deep faith to impact the lives of countless children throughout her career, and she had a special heart for the underprivileged as she taught in various schools in Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina. In addition, from 1966 to 1982 she and her husband Marvin served together in ministry at the Dan Valley Baptist Center in Eden, North Carolina. Lura also had a passion for medical science and genealogy and loved to study and converse on those issues. However, her deep-seated love for her Savior, her husband Marvin, and her children was what truly defined her.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, August 7 at Fair Funeral Home in Eden, North Carolina, 4-6 pm. A funeral service to honor Lura's memory will take place on Friday, August 8 at 1:00 pm at First Baptist Church of Eden, located at 533 Greenwood St, Eden, NC 27288. Following the service, a graveside service followed by a light reception will be held at Deep River Friends Meeting, located at 5300 W Wendover Ave, High Point, NC 27265.

In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to First Baptist Church of Eden, NC, Deep River Friends Meeting of High Point, NC, or Ukraine Challenge International, Inc., all three of which were dear to Lura's heart.