Carol Hooker

Carol Lee Hooker, age 80, passed away peacefully on June 16, 2026, at 10:47 p.m. at her home in Perdido Key, Florida, surrounded by her loving children and grandchildren.

Carol was born on November 22, 1945, at Aberdeen Hospital in Aberdeen, Mississippi, to Archie Clinton Willis and Lillian Justine Little Willis. She graduated with honors from Aberdeen High School, where she was recognized as the runner-up for Most Beautiful. In 1964, Carol enrolled in the Baptist School of Nursing in Memphis, Tennessee. During her senior year, she was voted Most Beautiful by the Cadettes of the United States Military Academy at West Point. While attending nursing school, she sang in the Nightingale Choir at Bellevue Baptist Church. The choir performed at the New York World's Fair and had the honor of singing for Elvis and Priscilla Presley at Graceland. Carol graduated from the Baptist School of Nursing in June 1966 and began a distinguished nursing career dedicated to caring for others.

From 1966 to 1968, Carol served as Head Nurse at Ivy Memorial Hospital in West Point, Mississippi. During those years, she was actively involved in First Baptist Church, singing in the church choir and teaching Junior Training Union classes.

In 1968, Carol moved to Jackson, Mississippi, where she worked in the Intensive Care Unit at Saint Dominic Hospital. She also served as First Assistant to plastic surgeon Dr. Michael Jabalay. While living in Jackson from 1968 to 1975, she was a member of Broadmoor Baptist Church and enjoyed part-time work as a clothing model.

In 1975, Carol relocated to Rochester, Minnesota, where she worked as an on-call Registered Nurse at Saint Mary's Hospital, affiliated with the Mayo Clinic. She continued modeling clothing and remained active in Southern Baptist churches during her years in Rochester and later in Boston, Massachusetts, where she lived from July 1979 to July 1981.

She was an active member of First Baptist Church in West Point, Mississippi, where she sang in the choir, taught the Young Married Sunday School Class, and served as Outreach Director.

She considered her greatest achievement to be her family. Her three children; Phillip Aron Hooker (Natalie), Andrew Hooker (Stephanie), and Shelley Grace Hemphill. She was adored by her five grandchildren; Preston Hooker, Robert Hemphill, Anna Hooker, Graye Hooker, and Knox Hooker. In addition are her cousins, Margaret Shilling and Shirley Winders Wilemon.

Preceding her in death are her parents; sisters, Janice Willis and Lisa Marie Willis; and cousin, Bobby Lewis Winders.

Carol's legacy of faith, compassion, and devotion to family will live on in the hearts of all who knew and loved her. She will be deeply missed and forever remembered.

A graveside service open to family and friends will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at New Prospect Baptist Cemetery in Lackey, Mississippi.

In lieu of personal delivery, flowers may be sent to TIsdale-Lann Memorial Funeral Home, 100 West Washington Street Aberdeen, Mississippi 39730