Carol McCall James

Carol Ann McCall James, 75, of Foley, Alabama, passed away peacefully on January 12, 2026, surrounded by her loving family.

Born on July 18, 1950, in Pensacola, Florida, to Barte and Myrtle Johnson McCall, Carol grew up with that classic Southern charm (except no sugar in her tea!) and never lost it. She was a proud graduate of Foley High School and went on to earn associate degrees from Faulkner State Community College in both Paralegal Studies and Elementary Education—proof that she was always ready to learn something new and help others do the same.

She loved the color yellow, carnations, and anything lemon- or ginger-flavored. Carol's heart was biggest when it came to family and teaching. She spent over 40 years as a beloved substitute teacher across Baldwin County schools, where her warmth and patience made even the rowdiest classrooms feel a little more like home. But if you asked her, her proudest achievement wasn't any diploma or paycheck—it was homeschooling her son Jason from 7th grade through high school graduation. She poured her heart into that adventure, and it showed when he received his bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of West Florida.

A devout Christian, Carol was a longtime faithful member of Oyster Bay Baptist, Fish River Baptist, and Crossway Baptist churches. Her faith wasn't just something she talked about; it was how she lived—generous to a fault, always ready with a hug, a listening ear, or (more likely) something delicious to take home.

If you ever visited Carol, you probably left with more than you came with: a jar of her famous pepper jelly, a bag of fresh figs, satsumas, kumquats, or whatever was ripe in the garden that day. She had the biggest, brightest smile in the room and wielded it like a superpower. You couldn't stay sad around her for long—she'd charm it right out of you, usually while pressing a little something extra into your hands "just because."

She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Fred White and David Wolfe; and sisters Patsy Giani and Joann Bedwell.

Carol is survived by her devoted husband of 58½ years, Marvin James; daughter Vinnesa James Kuhn (Rick) of Elberta; son Jason James (Kasha) of Summerdale; grandchildren Quaid Arthur, Tyler Arthur, and Kaitlyn Arthur; granddogs Nolan and Tico (who knew they were her favorites, too); sister Debbie Merchant; and brother Frankie McCall, Sr.

A memorial service to celebrate Carol's life will be held on Saturday, January 24, 2026, at noon at Fish River Baptist Church, 17140 County Road 33, Fairhope, AL.

She left us with full hearts, full jars, and probably a few extra pounds from all those garden goodies. We'll miss that smile, but we'll carry it with us every time we see a satsuma ripening or taste pepper jelly that reminds us of home.

Rest easy, Carol. Heaven just got a little brighter—and a lot sweeter.