Cherished wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, coach, athlete, and friend, Carol Garmon Hubbard, 79, of Glencoe, was called home by her Heavenly Father on August 23, 2026, after a period of declining health.

The funeral service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on August 27, 2026, with visitation beginning at 11:30 a.m. for family and at 12:00 p.m. for friends and family. Her lifelong friend, the Reverend Ken Casey, will officiate. Burial will follow in Crestwood Cemetery, with Crestwood Memorial Funeral Home directing.

She will be greatly missed by her daughters, Holly Hubbard and Haley (Chad) Baker; her cherished grandsons, Owen and Colin Beason; and her many cousins, nieces, nephews, and devoted friends. She will be reunited in Heaven with her beloved husband, Ken Hubbard; her parents, Milford and Wynell Garmon; and the many family members and friends who went before her.

Born in Glencoe on December 16, 1946, Carol remained a proud member of the community throughout her life. She graduated in the top five of her class from Glencoe High School in 1965 and in the top ten of her class from Jacksonville State University. She later earned a master's degree in education and an education specialist degree from the University of Alabama. Carol believed deeply in the value of education and spent 34 years teaching at Etowah High School, where she taught social studies and physical education. One of her favorite classes was Personal Assessment, in which she taught young women about health and wellness. She never stopped being a teacher.

Carol was an exceptional athlete and a fierce competitor—Roll Tide! She loved softball, volleyball, basketball, badminton, and shuffleboard and excelled at all of them. She was a gifted softball center fielder and continued playing well into her 50s. She was a member of several state championship teams, was named MVP of numerous tournaments, and was known for her exceptional fielding and batting. Her love of competition never diminished with age. She once won a shuffleboard competition on a cruise ship with a young partner who had never played the game before, which probably says as much about Carol's competitive spirit as it does about her partner's willingness to learn. Carol's athletic accomplishments were recognized with her induction into the ASA Alabama State Hall of Fame as a player.

She also shared her love of sports with generations of athletes. Carol loved coaching with her husband, Ken, and together they coached softball at Glencoe High School and basketball at Etowah High School. She also coached gymnastics and volleyball at Etowah, taking her teams to several state tournaments. Coaching was never simply about winning for Carol, although she certainly intended to do plenty of that. She taught her athletes discipline, confidence, perseverance, and the importance of working together. While she had a competitive spirit, she also had a remarkable ability to make people feel known, encouraged, and valued.

Carol's adventurous spirit was just as strong away from the playing field. After Ken's death, she traveled extensively, visiting more than 30 countries on six of the seven continents. She especially loved the Christmas markets of Europe and river cruises. Her final major adventure was a trip to Antarctica and Patagonia. She even went skiing at 73, proving that Carol's definition of “getting older” never included “slowing down.”

For the last 17 years, Carol derived limitless joy from spending time with her grandsons. From storytime at the library and lunch at Chick-fil-A to teaching them how to slide into a base, Carol was a fully present Nana. She wanted to give Owen and Colin the world. She took them to Disney World and skiing in Whistler, Canada. As director of physical education during the pandemic, she taught shuffleboard in the garage, set up a sliding drill in the hallway of her house, and had batting practice in the yard. She wanted to attend their every game and even sat in her car in the outfield when her health would not allow her to sit closer to the field.

Carol was a faithful member of Glencoe First Baptist Church for more than 70 years. She loved her church and her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Gospel music held a special place in her heart, and it brought her great joy throughout her life. Two of her favorite passages of Scripture were 1 Corinthians 1:18 and Galatians 2:20. Her faith was not simply something she professed; it was the foundation of her life and a source of strength throughout her years.

Carol was personable, determined, competitive, and fiercely independent. She loved her family deeply, made friends easily, and rarely met a challenge she did not believe she could conquer. She was a teacher well beyond the classroom, a coach even when she wasn't on a field, and a competitor even when the competition was only herself. She lived a full and remarkable life, and she left her mark on countless students, athletes, friends, and family members.

She will be remembered for her love of family, her faith, her passion for education and sports, her adventurous spirit, and her unmistakable competitiveness. Those who knew her will miss her terribly. However, we take much comfort in the thought that she has already arrived in Heaven, found Ken, located a softball field, checked the Alabama football schedule, and asked where they keep the badminton rackets.

For those who wish to honor Carol's life, flowers will be accepted, as well as donations to the Glencoe Athletic Fund or to a charitable organization that lifts up the mission of Matthew 25:40 in her memory.