Carol Homiller, 69, of Ball Ground, was dedicated to children

By Rick Badie

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

In 1973, Carol Homiller moved from Massachusetts to Ball Ground after the death of her father-in-law. Soon, she found herself separated, eventually divorced, and left to fend for seven children.

She put her college degree to work, first at the Ball Ground library and later at Reinhardt College in Waleska. After several years, she joined the state of Georgia’s office of child support services.

There, she helped single parents collect financial support from non-custodial parents. She rose to regional manager in a 25-year career. Ms. Homiller retired last year. But she couldn’t stay away.

“She retired, but still went back to work cases,” said Duane Lazenby of Marietta, a department colleague. “She was extremely committed.”

Apparently, some of that commitment stemmed from personal experience as a single parent, said her son, Stephen Homiller of Ball Ground.

“She pretty much raised all of us,” he said, “and we spanned a lot of ages. She certainly raised the last two pretty much exclusively. I know she got her strength from God. When I look back at what she did, it was absolutely remarkable.”

Carol Ware Homiller, 69, of Ball Ground, died Saturday from complications of ovarian cancer at Embracing Hospice in Cumming. A memorial service will be 2 p.m. Saturday at Ball Ground First Baptist Church. Cremation Society of Georgia is in charge of arrangements.

In 1961, Ms. Homiller graduated from Simmons College in Boston with a bachelor’s degree in library science. Before the family moved to Ball Ground, the New Jersey native operated a ceramics studio — Crafts by Carol — out of her home in Chelmsford, Mass.

After the family moved to North Georgia, she briefly ran the Cherokee Ceramic Center. She worked in the Ball Ground library before accepting a position at Reinhardt, and eventually with the office of child support services.

Ms. Homiller retired from the state in April 2008, but still went to work practically every day for several months, said her daughter, Betsy Ryle of Lawrenceville. To continue serving children, she’d recently become a court-appointed special advocate.

“What I get from people who worked with her is that she was an encouragement to get the job done right,” her daughter said. “She was really proud of what she did for children in the state of Georgia.”

Additional survivors include five other sons, Frank Homiller of Ball Ground; Daniel Homiller of Cary, N.C.; Philip Homiller of Asheboro, N.C.; Matthew Homiller of Austin, Texas; James Homiller of Ball Ground; and 21 grandchildren.