After a lengthy illness, Carol Blanchard Haines passed away quietly at Johnson City Medical Center on February 21st. Her faith in Christ sustained her during her years of suffering. We are so thankful for a place like Heaven, where there is no pain or suffering, and that Carol has been welcomed by her Heavenly Father with open arms.

Born and raised in New Orleans, Carol dearly loved the city and never lost her enthusiasm for The Big Easy. In her teens, she was very athletic and excelled at volleyball, basketball, and enjoyed tennis. Carol graduated from Louisiana Tech in 1991 with a major in Fashion Merchandising.

While at Louisiana Tech she worked in the Aviation Department where she learned to love aviation. Upon graduation, she became a flight attendant; and for eighteen years she enjoyed her work. In addition to in-flight duties she also taught in the flight attendant training program for her airline. As her illness progressed she continued to work long after she could have justifiably retired on disability. She enjoyed interacting with her passengers, and this brought about some entertaining anecdotes involving some notable people. She will always be remembered for her dedication and commitment to the work she loved.

Carol made friends with everyone she met and with whom she worked; she was very out-going. She always had a smile for most everyone she saw. She loved to be outdoors and ride bicycles when she was still able. Carol enjoyed flying with her husband in his small plane and was his chief navigator on their longer voyages. She loved her family and was a great step-mother. She was fond of cooking and was adept at preparing delicious Cajun and low-country dishes to enjoy with her family and friends.

Carol had a strong will which was never more evident than all the times she recovered from various medical challenges, much to the amazement of her physicians. During her long battle with illness, Carol never lost her loving attitude toward her family, her friends and her caretakers.

She is survived by her devoted husband, Tom Haines; her step-children: Jennifer Haines of Waterloo, Iowa, Justin Haines and Jason Haines of Winchester, VA; her parents Gilbert and Patricia Blanchard of Johnson City; sisters Cecile Huddleston of Johnson City, and Teresa Blanchard of South Riding, VA; brother Gilbert Blanchard, Jr. of Baton Rouge, LA; her nieces Marissa Brazil and Lauren Huddleston; and her nephews Gilbert Blanchard III, Thomas Huddleston, and Stewart Huddleston.

In lieu of flowers, it is Carol’s wish that donations be sent to Brother’s Keeper, P.O. Box 4101, Johnson City, TN 37602, (or online at www.BrothersKeeperTN.org.) All donations should be marked “in memory of Carol Haines.” Condolences to the family can be offered online at www.dillow-taylor.com.

The family will receive friends between 4-5:30pm on Wednesday March 1st at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home in Jonesborough, TN with a Celebration of Life service to follow.