Carol Ann (Brown) Ankerich departed this life for her eternal journey May 1, 2015, after a long, courageous, and hard-fought battle with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML).

She was born July 26, 1943, in Franklin County, Georgia, to Edna (Bartlett) Brown and the late Quentin Brown.

A cosmetologist since the early 1960s, Carol worked to bring out the beauty in others. That's a lot of perms, cuts, shampoos, and sets over 50-plus years. At the time of her death, she was the owner and operator of Carol's Cuts and Styles in Airline. It was the loyalty of and love for her customers that kept her working to the end. Carol gave truth to the adage, "Old hairdressers never retire, they just curl up and dye."

Her love of animals was as vast as the universe. If it were possible to have brought the world's stray kittens and puppies under her care, Carol would have made it happen.

She is survived by her husband, Obie Gene Ankerich; sons, Michael G. Ankerich and Charlie Snipes; mother, Edna Brown; sister, Lorraine Puerta; nieces, Anna (Mark) and Lauren Cobb; nephews, Jon Puerta, Dylan Cobb, and Jake Cobb; special friend Peggy Byrum; cousins; and a host of feline and canine companions.

She was preceded in death by her father, many friends and relatives, and a menagerie of stray kitties and pooches she rescued and considered family.

A memorial service will be held Wednesday, May 6, at 11 a.m., at Strickland Funeral Home chapel in Hartwell, Ga. The family will receive friends an hour before the service at the funeral home. The Rev. Susan Louttit-Hardaway is officiating.

The Strickland Funeral Home of Hartwell is in charge of all arrangements.