Paul E. Carroll

Paul Edward Carroll was born in Olney, Maryland on September 20, 1939 to the late Stephen Aloysius Carroll Sr. and Estelle Marie Wims Carroll. Paul received his early childhood education in Montgomery County Public Schools. He graduated from Carver High School in 1957. Paul joined the U.S. Army in December of 1959, where he was a tanker (gunner). He retired from the military in 1962. After the military, Paul returned home and obtained employment as a car salesman and car mechanic. Paul was an auto expert and there was nothing he didn’t know about a car. He sold and worked on cars for over 40 years. He had a passion for automobiles and there is no family member or friend who didn’t call Paul for advice about their car problems. He was our go to auto expert. Paul was a man of many words. He loved to talk and always had a story. He shared stories from his childhood growing up in segregated Montgomery County, and his participation in the first March on Washington on August 28, 1963. This experience really impacted his thoughts and feelings about race. Paul frequently spoke about racism and race issues in America. On August 23, 2013, Paul participated in the 50th Anniversary of the March on Washington. Paul said he would not miss this historical event for anything. He was so proud to participate in this event. Paul was passionate about many things including bicycling, Ping-Pong, and later in life he began to love the game of golf. There was not a day that went by that he was not outside “hitting balls”. Paul loved to listen to music and play cards with his family. While doing this, he would share stories about sitting in the Howard Theatre and at local juke joints seeing some of his favorite artists like Sam Cooke, Ray Charles, Fats Domino, Howling Wolf and Nat King Cole, but make no mistake, Sam Cooke was his favorite of all times. He loved the song, “A Change Is Gonna Come”. We will never hear another Sam Cooke song and not think of Paul. Paul was known by many names. Most family and friends called him “Buddy”, while others called him Wytachi, Paw Paw, and Paul Pulley. Paul has a daughter, Nekisha Lakins, from a previous marriage. He was a proud father and always said how proud he was of her going to college, and being a good mother and a good wife. He described her as the “calm daughter”. When he was in better health, he loved to visit his daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren, Thomas Jr. and Joshua. After being together for many years, Paul married Ronda Terrell-Carroll on July 29, 2002. He loved Ronda and was so thankful to her for supporting and caring for him during his illness. He also helped raise her daughter, Marlana Kelly, as his own daughter. He described her as his “feisty daughter”. Marlana supported Paul throughout his illness. Paul knew she would advocate for him at the hospital and wanted her to take him to his chemo and doctor’s appointments. Preceding him in death were his parents Stephen Aloysius Carroll Sr. and Estelle Marie Wims Carroll; and his brother Harry Carroll. On the morning of Tuesday, December 19, 2017, Paul took his last breath at The Washington D.C. VA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, two daughters and close family members. Paul leaves to treasure his memories, his loving and dedicated wife Ronda Terrell-Carroll; daughters Nekisha Lakins (Thomas) and Marlana Kelly; four grandchildren Nivea Richburg, James Richburg III, Thomas Lakins Jr., and Joshua Lakins; his brother Stephen Carroll and four sisters: Vivian Carroll, Edith Towns, Barbara Ann Franklin and Violet Carroll; and a host of dedicated and caring nieces, nephews, cousins, and other family and friends. He also had a best friend and brother-in-law Brian Bailey, and a close friend and golf buddy, “Rudy”.

Tributes

Paul E. Carroll

September 20, 1939 - December 19, 2017