Carrie R. Waters

Carrie Waters, beloved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and great, great grandmother, passed away peacefully on October 31, 2026, at the age of 102. She will be remembered for her kindness, strength, generosity, and the love she shared with everyone around her.

Born in 1924, in Athens, Tennessee. She was the 11th of 12 children born to Juliette and Wm. Hardy Rogers. Carrie devoted her life to her Lord, her family and to the people she cared for. She is survived by her son, Jim Waters, daughter, Sally Shriver, and daughter & son-in-law, Becky Ward (Jimmy), 4 grandchildren, 7 great grandchildren and 1 great-great grandchild. She was preceded in death by her husband, James A Waters and all 11 of her siblings.

Carrie was raised on a farm and loved to tell stories of the mischief she and her siblings could get into. She attended McMinn County High School where she was an honor student and found her love for music by playing the French Horn in the marching band. After high school she moved to Memphis to attend the University of Tennessee School of Nursing, but when she married Audrey Waters, a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1944, she was not allowed to return to continue her education as married women were excluded from attending nursing school at that point in time. After the war, they settled back in Athens where she was a devoted member of First Baptist Church and was active in all aspects of church life as well as the church secretary for over 20 years. 

Her memory will live on through the lessons she taught, the traditions she cherished, and the countless lives she touched. A celebration of life will be held on November 14, 2026, at 2 pm at Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church in Atlanta, GA. A service and internment in Athens, Tennessee will be held at a later date to be determined. In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes donations to First Baptist Church of Athens, Tennessee (donate here) or the McMinn County Living Heritage Museum (donate here), if desired.