Carol Spears Chambless

Carol Spears Chambless, 59, of Trussville, AL, called to her eternal resting place on Saturday, October 14, 2023 after a courageous battle with cancer.  She was born in Atlanta, GA, on March 23, 1964, to Katie Hemby Spears and Joseph Augustus Spears, Sr. Raised in Kennesaw Georgia alongside her older brother and sister, the family moved to Birmingham, AL in 1976 where she attended Shades Valley High School.  As a lover of all things beautiful, Carol graduated from Auburn University in 1986 with a Bachelor’s degree of Fine Arts and would maintain a love of art through support of the Jules Collins Smith Museum of Fine Art in Auburn.  

Carol was proud of the advances being made at UAB in both medicine and research. Her valuable contributions at the University of Alabama at Birmingham serving as the Program Administrator for the UAB Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center from 2017-2023.  Her compassionate manner with people during difficult times, her commitment to the important research, and dedication to her work was very instrumental in the growth and success of the program.  Earlier as the Program Manager for the UAB School of Nursing, she managed a large 4-site project, which was funded by the American Cancer Society; a program to implement Palliative Care in rural and remote settings.  Additionally, as Program Manager for the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center, she worked to implement one of the first Oncology Patient Navigation Programs in the country.  In recognition of her research dedication and experience, she was appointed the LEAD to the Cohort Training Academy with UAB’s Center for Clinical and Translational Science in 2021.  Carol was loved, admired, and appreciated by all of her coworkers and she will be greatly missed. 

In 2020, she completed both a Master’s degree in Public Health and a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and was inducted into the Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society.  In 2022, she continued her education and completed a Master Gardener certification program at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

Carol had an infectious spirit and believed in a lifetime of service of others.  She turned her passion for art, nature, and creativity into enhancing the lives of others. She understood that life has its challenges, that growth can be tough, and that with a community of support you can find gentleness everywhere.  She was a member of the Church of the Highlands and served as a dream team member on the Highland Kids and Motion student teams. She served in the UAB Arts in Medicine Program, helping to make baby quilts for (RNICU) Regional Newborn Intensive Care Unit parents at the UAB Women & Infant Center. She volunteered at the Greater Birmingham Humane Society and supported the adoption of animals. She leaves behind her black rescue cat named Sammi who had been by her side for twelve years. She returned to Auburn supporting the Women of Auburn and initiatives to equip women with tools to live with confidence and courage.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Katie Spears.  She is survived by her daughter, Liliana Frances Chambless; her sister, Susan Stewart (Robert Stewart); her brother, Joseph Augustus Spears, Jr. (Beverly Spears); nephew, Joseph Alexander Spears; and numerous other loved family members.

The family would like to thank all those who provided the compassionate care she received during her illness, and all the friends who offered emotional support and lifted her up with their prayers. The family will receive friends on October 20^th, 2023, from 11am to 12pm at Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home in Trussville with a memorial service following.

In lieu of flowers, friends may wish to remember her with a memorial gift made in Carol’s honor to 

-UAB Alzheimer's Disease Center Project Fundhttps://securelb.imodules.com/s/1881/giving19/interior.aspx?sid=1881&gid=3&pgid=481&cid=1223&bledit=1&dids=5571

-UAB Arts In Medicine Programhttps://securelb.imodules.com/s/1881/giving19/interior.aspx?sid=1881&gid=3&pgid=915&cid=2156 select Arts in Medicine out of designations.

-UAB School of Nursing-Carol Chambless Memorial Caregivers Scholarship