Dr. Carole Ann Lax Stewart

Dr. Carole Ann Lax Stewart, age 80, passed away on Monday, July 28, 2025, at Dugan Memorial Home in West Point, MS. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, at 2:00 p.m. in the Memorial Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Eugene Bramlett officiating. Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. An additional memorial service will be held in her birthplace, Henry County, TN at a later date. 

Carole was born on September 7, 1944, in Buchanan, TN, to the late Stonewall Lax and Evelyn Wilson Lax. She was a longtime member of Grace United Methodist Church in Columbus. She and her husband, Ralph, were married on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, 1962.

Carole graduated with a Bachelor of Science from Murray State University, a Master of Science from Indiana University, and a Doctorate of Education from The University of Mississippi. She went on to have a long and fulfilling career in higher education and athletics.

Dr. Carole Ann Stewart served on the faculty at Mississippi University for Women from 1971 until her retirement in 2001, earning the title of Professor Emerita of Health and Kinesiology. She had a remarkable career as both a professor and coach. In addition to her work at MUW, she coached field hockey at Judson College in Alabama, basketball at Morehead State University in Kentucky, and volleyball at Mississippi University for Women. She was twice honored as Outstanding Teacher of the Year and was widely admired for her dedication to students, excellence in teaching, and leadership in women’s sports.

She is survived by her husband, Ralph Stewart; daughter, Yvonne (Coy Judd) of Louisiana; two sisters, Kathryn Moore and Sue Gafford; and four grandchildren, Anthony Correro, Kathryn Correro, Dallis Judd, and Daisy Judd. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Robert Allen Lax.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made in her honor to:

Grace United Methodist Church:   P.O. Box 9245   Columbus, MS 39705