Biography: Little Rock lost one of its most beautiful and enduring smiles on Tuesday December 26, 2023.  Diane Reid Carroll came gently to rest in her home of more than 60 years on N. Fillmore Street in the Heights.  She joins her husband Phil Carroll who also passed away at home in 2013.

Diane Carroll was born in Shreveport, Louisiana and attended kindergarten at Patty Hill in Texarkana, Texas along with other notable graduates including H. Ross Perot. She attended Byrd High School in Shreveport and left for college at the University of Arkansas at the age of 16, a place that would change her life forever.

Some of Diane’s closest friends were made at the U of A, many through her affiliation with Pi Beta Phi. These friendships remained throughout her life. Foremost of those was John Phillip Carroll, a young man from Fort Smith, Arkansas. After being “good friends” with Phil throughout college, Diane left Arkansas to work as a flight attendant for Braniff Airlines.   A dinner in Dallas at the Baker Hotel reunited old friends Phil and Diane, but this time romance followed.   Phil and Diane began their life partnership with marriage on October 3, 1953.   They settled in Little Rock where Phil was a young lawyer at the Rose Law Firm, making the city their home and center of friends, community, and civic involvement for more than 7 decades.

In addition to her role as mother to three girls, Diane spent the majority of her life as a faithful community volunteer.   She was President of the LR Junior League, President of the Fine Arts Club at the Arkansas Arts Center, Chair of the Tabriz Auction, and a member of the Arts Center Board.  She served on the Board of Trustees for Mount St. Mary’s Academy where she also chaired the senior service volunteer program for 2 years.

Diane’s faith was immovable. After attending Holy Souls Church for years with her family, she converted to Catholicism in 1990.   Her volunteer work expanded to become a church Eucharistic Minister taking communion to patients and families at UAMS and to homebound parishioners.   She was also an active volunteer at The Stewpot at First Presbyterian Church for many years.
In 1987, Diane made a brief reentry into the professional world when asked to serve as the Executive Director of the Little Rock Arts and Humanities Promotion Commission where she actively promoted the arts and humanities in Little Rock. Shortly into her new-found career, Diane left the paid working world to focus on being a grandmother and to travel nationally with Phil, supporting him in his work with the National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws.

Diane relished international travel.  She and Phil traveled regularly, most often with friends Barbara and Guy Amsler, Dorine and Jack Deacon, and Diane’s sister and brother-in-law, Elizabeth and Bill Gross.   They visited many countries for extended trips, making friends with tour guides, bartenders, and ship captains across the globe.

A central part of Diane’s life in Little Rock were the men and women of the Rose Law Firm.  While Phil’s lifetime of work was for the Rose Law Firm, the firm became Diane’s family.  Her connection with the firm and its lawyers remained very deep well after Phil’s death.

Family was an essential purpose for Diane, who led many sprawling adventures to the beaches of Destin, Florida as the Carroll family grew larger and larger.  Today, Diane leaves three daughters and their spouses, Becky (Linda Spink) of Pelham, Massachusetts, Susan Colgin (Chris) of Dallas, Texas and Elizabeth Bradbury (Jim) of Austin, Texas.  Diane loved and befriended her five grandchildren who in turn loved and admired their De:  Margaret Payne (Trey), Ellen Reeder (Mitch), Grace Morris (Steven), and Sam & Jackson Bradbury. And she was gifted with six great grandchildren, Reid and Cross Payne, Lily and Noah Reeder, and Ellie and Olivia Morris.

The good fortune of Diane’s life brought an additional family of devoted caregiver angels who loved and supported Diane in her home in recent years, including her beloved Bobbie, and her devoted team at Shawnda’s Elderly Care: Shawnda, Kendra, Joanna, Kim, Dominick, Demetria, Bianca and Tamela.  Additionally, the family thanks Gentiva Hospice and nurses Rhiannon and Cymber.   All will miss Mrs. Diane and the spunk and grace she showed even in challenging times.

Diane was a beautiful, determined woman of the south who carried herself with immeasurable grace.  She touched many hearts and lives in Little Rock. The Carroll family thanks all of those who have reached out with kindness and wonderful thoughts and prayers.

In lieu of flowers, for those wishing to send a memorial please consider Holy Souls Catholic Church Monsignor Allen Trust Fund (1003 N. Tyler St., Little Rock, 72205) or The Stewpot at First Presbyterian Church (800 Scott St., LR 72201) or the charity of your choosing.

Visitation will be Wednesday, January 3, 2024 from 4 to 6 PM at Ruebel Funeral Home. Mass of Christian Burial will be on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at 10 AM at Our Lady of The Holy Souls Catholic Church. Arrangements are under the direction of RuebelFuneralHome.com