Carol Ruth Stainback Newnam

Carol Ruth Stainback Newnam died Saturday, April 19, 2025. She was 82 years old. Born in Charlotte, NC, Carol moved to the Chapel Hill area in 1966 after marrying Boyd Lee Newnam (dec. 2001).

She worked as a home economics teacher for two decades in Durham and Chapel Hill Schools, where she taught many children cooking, sewing, and other life skills. She started the Cross Country team and a Horticulture class at Culbreth Middle School.

After her retirement, and with the help of volunteers, Carol turned her home garden into a donation garden for the CORA Food Pantry in Chatham County. She volunteered with many non-profits focusing often on food and housing insecurity and domestic violence prevention.

She was a present, loving, and inspiring mother to daughters Jamie Newnam Dunlap, Laura Newnam Terry, and Ruth Newnam. She became a joyful and engaged grandmother to Mae, Boyd, Truman, Ella, and Iris. (We’re talking Grandma Camp and cookie bake sleepovers!)

She is survived by her daughters, grandchildren, sister Sarah Jane, and brothers Charles and James (Jim/Bubber). She was a powerhouse of kindness, patience, and generosity.

A memorial service will be held at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church on Friday, May 9 at 2 p.m. 2016 Mt Carmel Church Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27517 .

In lieu of flowers, her daughters request donations to the CORA Food Pantry, www.corafoodpantry.org , and the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund, www.curealz.org .