Today our hearts are filled with both a profound sense of loss and an even more profound sense of joy. Our dear sister, Jody Carnes, completed her race and stepped into the arms of Jesus on Monday, August 18, 2025. While we grieve the absence of her light here with us, we celebrate with all of Heaven that she is finally, fully home. Jody didn’t just pass away; she graduated to glory.
For Jody, her birth on April 25, 1951, was the start of a journey whose destination was always fixed on her Savior. Her life was a beautiful illustration of what it means to walk in purpose. Her job or her address didn’t define her, but her identity as a beloved child of God did.
A Life that Was a Living Testimony. We were all blessed to witness the fruit of Jody’s deep and abiding faith. Her 53-year marriage to Doug was more than a partnership; it was a ministry of faithfulness, a testament to a covenant centered on and sustained by Christ.
Professionally, Jody launched her career in the preschool program at Green Acres in Midfield, AL, that was followed by her decades of leadership at Head Start. This was not a just a career; it was her mission field. Christians are commanded to find their purpose and make a difference right where they are planted. Jody lived this. She saw her work as a divine assignment to stand in the gap for the vulnerable, reflecting the heart of a father who defends the fatherless. She didn’t just give children an educational start; she showed them the love of Jesus through her compassion and unwavering dedication.
The Heart of a Servant in This House
It was within the walls of her church home that many of us truly saw the heart of Jody the servant. She was one of those saints who never sought the spotlight but whose impact was immeasurable. She wasn’t looking for a title; she was looking for a need to meet and a soul to save. You’d find her offering a quiet word of encouragement to a young mother, praying faithfully for her small group, and distributing blessing cards to anyone and everyone crossing her path.
She understood that the Church isn’t a building; it’s a family on a mission. Her consistent, faithful service was the connective tissue that strengthened the church body. She lived the truth that the greatest ability is availability, always ready to serve whenever God called her.
Our Sure and Certain Hope
Jody fought the good fight. She finished the race. She kept the faith. Now, she has received her crown of righteousness.
So today, let us honor Jody’s legacy not by mourning her absence but by imitating her faith. Let us serve as she served, love as she loved, and live with the same eternal perspective that she held so firmly.
We know, with absolute certainty, that we will see her again. Until that day, we press on, inspired by her example and secure in the same glorious hope of the resurrection. Welcome home, good and faithful servant.
A visitation for Jody will be held Friday, August 22, 2025, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at Moss-Service Funeral Home, 1901 2nd Ave North West, Cullman, AL 35055, followed by a celebration of life funeral service from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.
The Carnes family request in lieu of flowers, that you please consider a donation to Day Star church.
To leave condolences for the Carnes family visit mossservicefh.com.
Moss Service Funeral Home directing.
