Carolyn Peoples

Carolyn Mercer Peoples, best known as “Grandma” for the last 26 years, said goodbye to her earthly home quite appropriately on Mother’s Day this past Sunday, May 10, 2026. She is preceded in death by her parents, retired Col. Phil Mercer and Mary Sue Mercer, and two of her four siblings, Kenneth Mercer and Pamela Benson, along with her nephew David Benson. She is survived by her brothers Howell Mercer (Ellen) and Matthew Mercer (Sue). Carolyn leaves behind a legacy of love and laughter through the life she built with her husband of over fifty years, Jimmy Dale Peoples, and their three children, Dale Peoples (Shea), Jamie Stovall (Adam), and Ashley Peoples. They gave Carolyn her favorite people on the planet, her grandchildren: Peyton Peoples, Addison Socia (Travis), Gage Peoples, Gillian Stovall, Tyler Peoples, Anna Spanding (Timothy), Kendall Peoples, Coleman Stovall, Bradley Peoples, Andrew Stovall, Joseph Stovall, Thomas Stovall, Isaac Stovall, and David Stovall. The great part about her love of being a Grandma is that she offered that love to everyone she met, the kids’ friends, the little ones at church, and the sweethearts of her grandchildren. She always said that if she had to choose between sitting at the grown-up table or the kids table, she would choose the kids table every time.
Carolyn was primarily a stay-home mom during her children’s younger years, working off and on as a medical assistant, a front office administrator, and even as a school bus driver, but her favorite “job” was being a mother. She didn’t miss a concert, halftime performance, softball game, basketball game, swim meet, or theatre production. She spent countless hours in the water, either in the pool teaching all the kids how to swim, or in the lake, teaching her kids how to ski and sitting on a life jacket waiting for the boat to make its way around to her after helping launch one of them from the water. Her favorite promotion was to that of “Grandma”, again attending football games, theatre productions, chorus concerts, and wrestling matches. She was so supportive that the coaches would notice when they didn’t hear her in the stands. Outside of her family, she was a helper, a fighter for justice, and someone who knew how to get things done. Carolyn was a woman of action and would not back down from a fight if that is what it took to take care for the needs of another.
A service to honor Carolyn’s life will take place on June 20th at Tri-Cities Church, 2619 Ben Hill Rd., East Point, GA, at 10 AM. This will be a celebration because she was clear about not wanting a funeral. Dress like you are headed to a party! Following the service, the family will be holding an intimate gathering of remembrance in Elijay, GA.
In lieu of flowers, please carry out an intentional act of kindness for another to honor Carolyn. Tip a little extra, help someone with a bill, use your truck to help someone move, and if you know a child/teen who has a specific need, she’d give you bonus points for meeting that need.