Carole W. Terry

On Monday, May 5, 2025, Carole White Terry passed from life while undergoing rehabilitation at the Plantation Manor in McCalla, AL. Ms. Terry was a proud resident of Sebring, Florida in Highlands County for over 40 years until moving in with her son, John Rowe, of Brookwood, Alabama. Ms. Terry was a parishioner of Union Congregational Church, under Pastor Bill Breylinger.  Even after her retirement, Ms. Terry was known for her many years of service to the community as a banker with First Union. After retirement, she deeply enjoyed gardening, spending time with her beloved furry feline friends, Tuffy, Ms. Kitty, Bridgey and Honey, and helping to care for her more senior friends in the community. She was fiercely independent and continued to enjoy life in her Sebring Hills home, well into her eighties, despite her son’s best efforts to encourage her to move closer to his home in Alabama. Ms. Terry celebrated her 90th birthday, complete with her favorite Publix carrot cake, just two days before her passing.

Carole Everett White was born to Sylvia White (nee Stefani) and Robert K. White on May 3, 1935. She was the first of 5 children raised in the White household at the family’s Prospect Hill property in Taunton, Massachusetts. Carole graduated Class of 1954 from Taunton High School. As the White children grew into adults, their family maintained very close ties, celebrating many joyous occasions and blessed events either at Prospect Hill or at the family’s vacation home in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard. Fond memories Carole shared of her time in Massachusetts include family dinners around the table with her family, harvesting timber with her father, enjoying time on Black Pond, working for Reed and Barton, managing Mink Meadows Golf Club, seeing the Illumination of the Cottages of Oak Bluffs, and helping with her sister’s event business on Martha’s Vineyard. She was preceded in death by her father, “Bob,” (4/8/1911 – 10/1/1982) and her mother, Sylvia (5/3/1913 – 11/7/2008). She is survived by her four siblings – sister, Roberta “Bobbie” Wilde, brother, Christopher “Chris” White (beloved sister-in-law, Shirley), brother, Timothy “Tim” White, and sister, Sylvia “Debbie” White. Carole was proud as could be and spoke very glowingly of her nieces, Kathy and Amy, and nephews, Mark, Brad, Mike, Steve, and Christian.

In 1976, Carole settled in Southern Florida where she raised her three children – Susan, John and Nicky. It was here, Carole met and married the love of her life, James “Jim” Terry on October 16, 1982. Together the couple managed the tasks of raising children, managing Carole’s career, and Jim’s thriving pool construction business. From the marriage, Carole welcomed two step-children, Carolyn Springer and James Terry, Jr. into her heart and home.  Carole was welcomed into the loving embrace of her “Jimbo” (5/19/1930 -  9/4/1997) in heaven. Carole was undoubtedly greeted at the gates by her daughter, Susan Harwell Graese (5/5/1958 – 7/13/1985) and her son, Nicholas Alan Rowe (1/15/1971 – 9/7/1988).

Ms. Terry has spent most of the last two years living with her surviving son, John David Rowe, and her five grandchildren in Alabama. Ms. Terry deeply loved her grandson, John Ashton Rowe, grandson, David Aaron Rowe, granddaughter, Nicole Annelise Rowe, grandson, Willman Aric Rowe, and grandson, Bryant Aysa Rowe. She also enjoyed the company of family friends, Douglas Harden and Teresa Willman, who sat with her when John needed to be out of the house. John and the grandchildren were very dutiful in attending to her health needs and made every effort to minimize her discomfort in her final months on Earth. As she began the transition from this life to the hereafter, she spoke more and more often of her Jimbo, Susan and Nicky, preparing for the time when she would join them in paradise. She also repeatedly expressed her concern for her baby sister, Debbie, frequently asking after her and always concerned with her wellbeing. By grace, just a few days before her passing, Carole seemed to be growing in strength and clarity, so that she was able to celebrate her birthday before her home going. She was awake and aware that her family had come to celebrate the amazing milestone of 90 years of life. Several friends of the family wished her a Happy Birthday via social media and so Ms. Terry left in very high spirits and moved on peacefully to a place free from pain, where both her youth and her fellowship with cherished family members has been eternally restored.

Arrangements entrusted to:
Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home
4001 Sebring Parkway
Sebring, FL 33870
Online condolences may be left at:
www.stephensonnelsonfh.com