Carolyn "Susie" Ball Stewart

Carolyn Ball Stewart—Susie—passed away in her home on March 10, 2026, surrounded by her loving husband and family. She was the devoted daughter of Benjamin Franklin Ball and Merle Flynn Ball.

Susie is survived by her husband Tom Stewart, her best friend and life companion, with whom she shared careers in education and built loving lives together in both Sylva, North Carolina, and Bar Harbor, Maine. Susie’s brother Ben Ball, Jr. (Susanne), and sister Gladys Miller (Willis), are not only family but also steadfast friends who cared for her throughout.

Susie will be forever cherished by her son Clayton Hooker (Beth). She adored and doted on her grandsons Cade Hooker (Jordan) and Gavin Hooker. She was blessed by Tom’s two sons who became her own: Jeff Stewart (Leah) and Greg Stewart (Jessi). She truly enjoyed her “bonus” grandchildren—Owen and Trevor McDonald, Hayes and Abi Stewart, and Jackson and Wyatt Stewart—and one special great-grandson Miles McDonald. Susie loved and embraced her extended family of nieces and nephews: Benjamin Ball, III, Ashleigh Ball (Eugene), Courtney Ball, Lisa Miller, and Chris Miller; and grandnephew Caleb Giles and grandniece Averie Giles.

One statement could sum up her force in this world: Susie taught middle school English for thirty years. She liked nothing more than being in the classroom teaching and nurturing her students. She was loved by her students because of her warm, empathetic nature and desire to see each of them succeed. She had high expectations of her students but was also warm, patient, and fun-loving with them. She was admired by her colleagues for her professionalism and gifts as a teacher. Susie’s qualities of warmth, charm, genuineness, and spunk were truly her trademarks throughout her life.

During her teaching career, Susie was recognized for her dedication and received many accolades and awards including being selected for the 2002 NCAE Kay Trull Distinguished Educator Award. A colleague at Waynesville Junior High School wrote: “Susie is not afraid to let her students see on a daily basis that she cares about them, nor is she afraid to hold them to high standards and to expect them to be responsible for their learning. She tries to see that all students, from her inclusion special education class to her academically/intellectually gifted class, experience success. [And] her work on behalf of teachers on the local, state, and national levels is widely recognized. Her record speaks for itself.”

Susie earned a Master of Arts in Education degree in 1995 from Western Carolina University. She was a longtime member of the National Education Association (serving as the NC Alternate Director for two years) and the North Carolina Association of Educators (serving on the Board of Directors for six years). In retirement, Susie continued her advocacy as a passionate supporter of North Carolina’s public education system and was an active member of NCRSP (North Carolina Retired School Personnel), serving as the Haywood County chapter’s Newsletter Editor for many years. Susie saved some of her students’ writing (several of whom won state essay competitions), their award notifications, and press clippings in a file that she asked to see during her final weeks.

Susie was known for her steady, unflappable presence, her wry sense of humor with a smattering of twinkling side-eye, her ability to see people as individuals, her fairness and common sense. She embraced the good in life, finding joy and peace with her loving family and friends. Susie was deeply cared for and loved. To her family, she was the bearer of gifts, the bringer of cakes, cards, and candles—the baker and creator of holiday-themed food arrangements (turkey-shaped vegetable trays, bread wreaths, and antipasti Christmas trees). She was a giver. And because of her, we often gathered together. The family will cherish all the memories that were made. Susie will be so very missed.

The family wishes to thank the kind and compassionate staff members at Four Seasons for hospice care. There was a special bond between daughter-in-law Jessi Stewart and Susie—who shared cancer courage—and we want to acknowledge Jessi’s love and compassion for Susie. Tom’s sister, Tiz, continues to be a constant support throughout, and we are grateful. Selfless to the end, Susie was most concerned about leaving behind her husband. If you know Tom, and you know how truly they loved each other, help us to fulfill one of her last assignments given to us: “Please take care of him.”

Susie’s advice is to be happy, do the best you can, and be willing to overlook things. In lieu of flowers or even a card, Susie asks that each person do an act of kindness. Call someone you have been meaning to call but have not gotten around to doing. Use this as an excuse to get back in contact. Donate, help a stranger, mend a relationship, or help an animal. If you knew her you were blessed. Pass that blessing on.

A celebration of life service will be held on March 21, 2026, from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. at the Lake Junaluska Memorial Chapel (near Waynesville, NC).