Esther Verna Windham Wagner Carr

With great sadness we wish to share the passing of our mother, Esther Verna Windham Wagner Carr, 84; our solace being that she was at home in Pittsboro, NC with her family and her much loved but very spoiled dog, Jackson, when she passed from pneumonia. Our mother had a strong faith and was not afraid of death; firm in her belief that she was going to be with Jesus.

Mama was born in Sumter, SC on May 31, 1940, to Vernice Kolwyck Windham and George Windham. She, along with her brother and cousins, was raised by her Grandmother while her Mother and Aunt went to work to support the WWII shipbuilding effort. Her family moved to Charleston where they lived until she was 14, after which they moved south to Miami, FL. Our Mother was a true beach bunny, living near the coast for most of her life. Her second marriage took her to Annapolis, MD, which she loved for its salt water and seafood.

She was an adventurer! Mama climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan. As a member of The Lighthouse Society she travelled to almost every lighthouse in the US. She visited every continent and sailed many seas. She best loved Australia and Ireland and visited both twice. In her 70’s she and a friend travelled across the country in an RV. Being a voracious reader, she excelled at word puzzles and crosswords, and was a Jeopardy maven. She was thrilled when she and her friends were recognized by the local paper as the Masked Marvels, after they began gathering in the park, masked, during the Pandemic. And she was overjoyed when she finally became a member of the Great-Grandmother’s club.

Her church was a vital part of our Mother’s life. As a long-time member of Pittsboro United Methodist Church, she made valued friendships in her Sunday school class and was renewed by the fellowship of her church community.

Our Mother is preceded in death by her husband, Lt. Col. Virgil H. Carr. She is also preceded in death by two brothers, George Benny Windham, and Michael Ballard. She is survived by her sister-in-law, Sandra Windham, two sisters, Susan Lanier (Dean) and Anna Gunza, one brother, Jim Ballard, a son, W. Scott Wagner, two daughters, Judith Ann Wagner Shipley (Debbie) and Amy Lauren Wagner Baynard, four grandchildren, Bryan Cole Buckner, Kelsey Drew Buckner (Joel Floyd), Samantha Hope Baldwin, and Savannah Rae Baynard, three great-grandchildren, Asa Louie Floyd, Nona Birdie Floyd, and Dory Harrison Floyd, three nephews, Wade, Wesley, and Wyatt Windham, and niece, Shelley Windham.

The family will receive friends Wednesday, August 28, 2024, from 1:00PM-1:50PM at Pittsboro United Methodist Church Sanctuary. The funeral service will follow at 2:00PM with Rev. Lucas Nelson presiding.

Immediately following the service, interment will be held in the church cemetery. There will be an informal reception in the PUMC Family Life Center immediately following.

Please, in lieu of flowers, honor our Mother by donating to the Chatham Outreach Alliance (CORA) at P.O. Box 1326, Pittsboro, NC 27312. Its vision of a community without hunger was dear to her heart.

Condolences may be made at www.donaldsonfunerals.com

Donaldson Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Carr family.