Mrs. Carolyn Joan Gravett Braswell

Carolyn Joan Gravett Braswell of Little Rock, Arkansas, passed away peacefully on November 14, 2025, at the age of 84. She was born in DeWitt, Arkansas on December 16, 1940, to the, late Leonard and Ruth Gravett and lived most of her life there before moving to Little Rock after the death of her husband of 60 years, Bill Braswell in 2021. She most recently lived at Chenal Pines Retirement Community surrounded by a wonderful group of friends and staff members. She is survived by her son, Max Braswell and daughter-in-love, Amy Jenkins Braswell, granddaughter Juliana Reynolds (Calvin), grandson Jackson Braswell (Ashley), and five great grandchildren, Jake Reynolds, Jonah Reynolds, Jenni Reynolds, Brady Braswell, and Lainey Braswell. She was preceded in death by her husband Bill Braswell, parents Leonard and Ruth Gravett and two sisters, Helen Adams and Fran Deleo. Carolyn was first and foremost a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. She set an example for her only child, Max, at an early age that created the legacy of family members who love the Lord. She was a member of First Baptist Church in DeWitt and taught Sunday School there for many years. To her family she was the example of the virtuous woman, always willing to place others before her own needs. She was “Grammy” to her grandchildren and great grandchildren and took immense pleasure in making their lives special. She bought too many Christmas gifts for everyone, loved to cook wonderful food for her family at any time of day, and ran up the Dillards card buying baby clothes, tennis shoes, and anything they wanted. She was loved for her hunting-trip breakfast that often made you cut the hunt short just to get back home for the best bacon in the world. For as long as possible she was a Grammy that would jump on the trampoline, go roller skating, travel to Razorback games, or play Monopoly for as long as you wanted to play. Carolyn loved the sand and water, whether it was in Destin, her favorite place, or on a sandbar on the Arkansas River, where she and Bill had a river home for many years, which was always filled with friends and family. She was a woman of style and was honored as such in 1989, joining a roster of much more famous Arkansas women, recognized for their grace, sense of style and impact on their community. She worked for more than four decades at First National Bank of DeWitt, now Southern Bancorp. She started her career as a teller, which gave her the opportunity to help and build friendships with members of the community. She retired from the bank as Compliance Officer but still stepped in to help if the bank needed her long after her formal retirement. A celebration of her life will take place on Wednesday, November 19, at First Baptist Church in DeWitt under the direction of Essex Funeral Home. Visitation is at 10 a.m. followed by the funeral service at 11 a.m. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church of DeWitt, 322 West 1st St., DeWitt, AR 72042, or the Arkansas Forestry Association Education Foundation, 1213 West 4th St., Little Rock, AR 72201.

Mrs. Carolyn Joan Gravett Braswell

December 16, 1940 - November 14, 2025