Obituary for Carole Helton Strom

Carole Helton Strom of Conyers, Georgia, born February 20, 1940, age 84 passed away Saturday, May 18, 2024. She was a native of Cherokee County, NC and daughter of the late Clyde and Lena Goforth Helton, one of 13 children. She was preceded in death by an infant sister Barbara Etta and sister Marjorie Elizabeth Coker, a brother Edward Adam Helton and sister-in-law Mary Zell Helton.

Surviving is her husband of 63 years, William "Bill" Strom; daughter Cheryl Ann Vinson, son William E. Strom and 5 grandchildren, Ashely L. Tillman, Colt C. Newsome, Alexis N. Vinson, William C. Strom and Julia C. Strom, nine siblings: James C. Helton of Turtletown, TN, Russell (Delene) Helton of Eldorado, IL, John (Elva) Helton of Manning, SC, Harold (Gaynell) Helton of Murphy, NC, Dan (Rhena) Helton of Turtletown, TN, Barry Helton of Murphy, NC, Fran (Darel) La Perriere of Murphy, NC, Bonnie (Kenneth) Moore of Andrews, NC, Mary Jane (Dave) Huie of Lithia Springs, GA, sister-in-law Annette (Edward) Helton of Murphy, NC and a special aunt, Mrs. Wendell (Earlene) Helton of Murphy, NC.

As a child she attended and became a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, graduated Murphy High School in 1957 and received a scholarship to Grady Memorial Hospital School of Nursing in Atlanta, GA, graduating with a RN degree. She met the love of her life while there and married William "Bill" Strom, September 4, 1960.

She began her career at Columbia Baptist Hospital in South Carolina. In 1963, she moved to Durham, NC and worked at McPherson EENT Hospital and Beverly Nursing Home. Between 1966 and 1970, she moved back to Atlanta to work at Georgia Baptist Hospital. From 1970 to 1995 she worked for AT&T, Atlanta Southern Regional Headquarters as Nurse Manager and interim Medical Director for the southern region. She and Bill received a BS Degree at St. Francis in Joliet, IL in 1982.

She held numerous certifications, Certified Case Manager, Certification in Disability Case Management and as a Certified Occupational Health Nurse, EKG Technician and Phlebotomist.

In 1984, AT&T sponsored the Los Angeles Olympics, and Carole was responsible for the medical coverage of all the torch runners who ran from Memphis, TN to Dallas, TX. They rode in a caravan for two weeks and followed all the runners. From 1995 to 1997, she worked at Georgia Power as an Occupational Health and Disability case manager. She left in 1997 to become a full-time granny and loving every precious moment. In her spare time, she loved gardening, especially her flowers.

Nursing wasn't just a career for her, it was truly her calling in life, helping others and putting needs before her own. She loved to travel and had been to many states and countries.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, May 26, 2024 at 3pm at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Murphy, NC. Rev. Russell Helton will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family has requested donations to be made to the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Max Ware, 49 Hickory Lane, Murphy, NC 28906-3902.

Scot Ward Funeral Home of Conyers, GA was in charge of cremation.