John Brantley Carroll

Major John Brantley Carroll, Jr., USA (Ret.), 87, of Charleston, SC, husband of Frances Hitopoulos Carroll, entered into eternal rest Friday, August 12, 2016. His Funeral Service will be held Saturday, August 20, 2016, in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 30 Race Street, at 11:00 a.m. Entombment, Live Oak Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. The family will receive friends Friday from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. in the Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, with the Trisagion Service at 7:00 p.m. Arrangements by J. Henry Stuhr, Inc. Downtown Chapel.

On August 2, 1929 in Charleston, SC, John was the first born son to the late John Brantley Carroll, Sr., Battalion Chief of the Charleston Fire Department and the late Hermine Adams Carroll Beckmann, a homemaker, both of Charleston, SC. After graduating Charleston High School, he worked for Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph Company where he was involved in running telephone wire across the Grace Bridge to connect Charleston and Mt. Pleasant by phone. He decided that a career in the US Army might suit him better so in 1950 he enlisted. With a quick mind it was determined that he was well suited for the artillery. In 1957, he obtained a special age waiver to become the oldest attendee at the Army Officer Candidate School to that date. In October of 1955, he took time to marry Frances Andrea Hitopoulos, his childhood friend and later sweetheart. They expanded their little family with the arrival of their only child, Georgia, in 1962.

John served in Occupied Japan, Vietnam, Munich, Germany, twice in Korea and several duty stations stateside in Georgia and South Carolina. A number of meritorious citations were awarded him including the Vietnam Cross of Gallantry, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Meritorious Unit Citation. His greatest military achievements were being elevated to Major and being classified as an "Artillerist". On September 30, 1970, he received an honorable discharge into retirement.

Upon retiring, John opened his first business as a private appliance sales and service representative for the Tappan Appliance Company. When he sustained a knee injury in 1981, he opened the first of two liquor stores in the Charleston area. On December 31, 1997, he sold his business and fully retired so that he and Frances could travel and spend more time with their daughter's family.

From 1970 he was an active member of The Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity including holding positions as Church Treasurer and Vice President. Although of German, Irish and English decent, John worked his way through new ranks and was the first non-Greek to become President of the Charleston Chapter of AHEPA in 1975. Such a fixture in the Greek community did he become, it was long ago forgotten that John actually wasn't of Greek decent. An ever present fixture with the Annual Greek Festival he worked many years as head of the Finance Committee, in various other support roles and in his later years as the official squeezer of spinach for the spinach pies served. If you've eaten a spanakopita at the Greek Festival anytime in the last eight years, you have been touched by this amazing man. Although his three Granddaughters lived in Tucker, GA, he became increasingly involved with the youth of the church as part of "The Papouli Squad" and within the Charleston community. Alongside the military veterans of Greek decent, he aided in honoring those military persons who had gone before him.

Known for his dry humor, twinkling eye, selflessness, affability and strength of faith and character, John was known by many names. To his family and friends he was known as Bammy, Brantley, Uncle John, Yianni, "The Major", "The Grandfather" or simply Mr. John. But the most important monikers he went by were Husband, Daddy and Papou. An incredibly strong family man, he was the rock of his family and supported each member with his great love. On August 2, 2016, he took his last pictures with those whom he loved most; his wife of 61 years, his daughter and his Granddaughters. On the morning of August 12, 2016, he passed into the house of his Heavenly Father due to complications from a short fight with a very rare form of cancer. Major John Brantley Carroll, Jr. will be greatly missed by all who knew or were acquainted with him.

He is survived by his much loved wife, Frances A. Hitopoulos Carroll of Charleston, SC; his daughter, Georgia E. Carroll Nassos (Peter) of Tucker, GA; Granddaughters, Eftyhia J. Nassos of Macon, GA and Christina J. Nassos of Tucker, GA; a brother, Harry Beckmann (Annette) of Folly Beach, SC; and nieces, nephews, cousins and relatives throughout SC, CA and AK.

John is predeceased by his parents; his sisters, Lynn Elizabeth Carroll Sistrunk of Olanta, SC and Claudia Hermine Beckmann Dew of Charleston, SC; and his beloved Granddaughter, Andrea Eleni Nassos of Tucker, GA.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials may be made to the Hellenic Center Building Fund, Greek Orthodox Church of the Holy Trinity, 30 Race Street, Charleston, SC 29401.