of Little Rock, AR

October 26, 2025

Dr. Carolyn Scott Bray of Little Rock, Arkansas went home early Sunday, October 26 as the result of a head injury sustained when she collapsed Wednesday while on an outing with friends from her Parkway Village retirement community. She was born in Childress, Texas to A L and Lucile Scott and had two adoring older brothers A L Jr. and Bob who dubbed her ''Brat!'' She grew up in San Angelo and Fort Worth, Texas, graduating from Arlington Heights High School in Fort Worth. Following her freshman year at Baylor University she married high school sweetheart, J. Graham Bray Jr.

Carolyn was fiercely independent, enjoyed books, international travel and attending symphony and opera performances. She excelled at thoughtfully selecting and sending timely birthday cards to her extended family and friends!

She earned undergraduate degrees in Biology and Chemistry from Baylor, a Master of Education in Counseling and Human Development from Hardin Simmons University and a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration from North Texas State University. She served as Associate Dean of Students at Hardin Simmons University, Associate Director of Placement at The University of North Texas and Director of Placement at University of Texas at Dallas. She was serving as Assistant Director Certification and Accountability in the Teacher Development Center when she retired from UT Dallas in June 2022 after 25-plus years of service.

Carolyn relocated to Parkway Village in Little Rock upon retirement, making many new friends while staying active and engaged. She enjoyed walking, exercise class, swim walking class, bunco, dominoes and was learning to play mahjong.

She attended Fellowship Bible Church, and was a faithful member of her D-group and the Precepts Class. She had been active at First Baptist Church of Richardson, TX, teaching in the Women's Sunday School class, serving on many committees and as a deacon. Carolyn also made an impact at First Baptist Church of Denton, TX; First Baptist Church of Abilene, TX; First Baptist Church of Oklahoma City and Broadway Baptist Church in Fort Worth, TX. She was always a Sunday School teacher and served for a time as College Department Director and Youth Minister in Abilene.

Carolyn was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma and faculty advisor for the chapter at the University of North Texas. She enjoyed participation in Leadership Denton, her professional associations and received numerous awards for excellence and distinguished service over the course of her career.

She is survived by her 3 children and their spouses: Caron and Mark Jacobs of Santa Fe, NM, Kimberly and Tad Pruitt of Little Rock and David and Melissa Bray of Pleasanton, TX. She is also survived by 7 grandchildren: Caroline (Karl) Kreusel of Granbury, TX, Bec Jacobs of South Philadelphia, PA, Wes (Maribeth) Pruitt of Houston, TX, Lillian (Tucker) Brackins of Little Rock, Emma (Will) McGrath of Little Rock, Ivey (Lyle) Sherman of Little Rock and Dalton Bray of Rockport, TX. She has 8 great grandchildren: Jacob, Kate, Annie, Alice, Fitz, Oliver, Charlotte and Wyatt, with 2 more arriving soon, Lucy and Shepherd! Numerous loving nieces and nephews survive her as well.

A woman of steadfast Christian faith, Carolyn/Mimi found solid footing in a life grounded in the Bible, church and service. Duty, loyalty, knowing the details of the lives of those she loved and trying not to burden others - those were all ways she showed love to those around her and belief in the God who loved her. We thank God for her earthly life and legacy. And we treasure the eternal one she now enjoys.

A memorial service for Carolyn will be held at 11:00 Saturday, November 1st at Fellowship Bible Church, 4101 Kirk Road with visitation to follow. Donations in honor of Carolyn can be made to Fellowship Bible Church Little Rock at www.fellowshipar.com/give/ or to Texas Baptist Student Ministry (TXBSM) at www.gonowmissions.com/give.

 

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