Carole Knowles

Carole Leigh Childres Knowles

April 14, 1943 - August 11, 2025

Carole Leigh Childres Knowles, 82, of Mobile, Alabama, passed away peacefully on August 11,

2025, in USA Health Providence Hospital, surrounded by the love of her immediate family.

Born on April 14, 1943, in Mobile, Carole was the daughter of Roy Isaiah and Annie Eudora

Childres of Prichard, Alabama. She was preceded in death by her parents; brothers Ivan Childres

and Cicero Eugene Burrell; nephew Geno Burrell; and her beloved best friend, Martha Hunt.

A graduate of C.F. Vigor High School, Carole proudly served her country, first in the United

States Air Force for three years and later in the Alabama National Guard. She re-enlisted in the

1970s, and her unit was activated during Hurricane Frederick, playing a vital role in crisis

response throughout the Gulf Coast. After more than 20 years of dedicated service, Carole retired

from the National Guard in the early 2000s. Later in life, she studied to become a nurse,

reflecting her lifelong dedication to helping others.

Carole and her best friend Martha Hunt shared a deep bond, raising their children together as

close as any siblings could be. That bond extended to Martha's daughter, Angie Hunt Surgenor,

whom Carole loved and adored as her own. She was a devoted member of Christ United

Methodist Church in Mobile and was deeply committed to her family-especially her role as a

grandmother, which brought her immense joy.

Her adventurous spirit took her to Ireland twice, with dreams of returning a third time. In honor

of her father's unfulfilled wish to learn the fiddle, Carole took up violin lessons later in life. She

was also a talented artist, known for the extraordinary detail in her drawings. Carole enjoyed

sudoku puzzles, Bible Study Fellowship, seafood, sweet treats, and sharing "dad jokes" and witty

puns that sparked laughter wherever she went-a gift she proudly passed on to her son, Marc.

In recent years, Carole resided at Gordon Oaks Senior Living Center, where she was cared for

with compassion and kindness. Her family extends heartfelt gratitude to the dedicated staff and

management for their loving support.

Carole is survived by her sister, Ruby Elizabeth Burrell; sister-in-law, Patricia Ann Childres;

sons Wade Carlos and Marc Daniel Knowles; chosen daughter Angie Hunt Surgenor; nephews,

Anton Burrell and Roy Ivan Childres II; nieces, Belinda Parker, Beverly Childres, and Pam

Montgomery; grandchildren Daniel Montgomery Knowles, Maia Itaska Knowles, Caroline

Elizabeth Knowles, and Erin Michelle Knowles.

A celebration of life will be held Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Mobile Memorial Gardens, 6040

Three Notch Rd, Mobile, AL. Visitation will begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by the service at 10:00

a.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Carole's memory to ALS

Spark4Life, a local nonprofit providing financial and emotional support to patients and families

affected by debilitating illnesses, including ALS. Donations may be made online (https://

www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-change-lives-2466) or mailed to ALS

Spark4Life, 1052 Galoway Avenue, Mobile, Alabama 36609.

Carole will be remembered as a silly, fun-loving woman with an unmatched work ethic, a

generous heart, and a joy for life that inspired everyone who knew her.