Carol A Raiford

Carol (Games) Raiford passed away peacefully at the age of 70 on Sunday, September 10th in Auburn, AL after a courageous battle with cancer.

Carol was a native of Frankfort, KY, born to Mary Joyce (Duvall) Games and Walter Thomas Games in 1953. The second of five siblings, she graduated from Franklin County High School in 1971 and entered the U.S. Air Force in 1974 as an air traffic controller where she met her future husband, John Raiford, marrying that same year. Married for 49 years, she was a lifelong military spouse, homemaker, and deeply devoted mother of three children and four bonus children. She had the joy of being “Gran” to her 7 grandchildren.

A gifted cook, seamstress, gardener, and event planner, she elevated homemaking to an art form… touching all of those blessed to know her with her dedication and love. Carol loved to travel, her favorite places being the beach and her beloved home of Kentucky, noted for beautiful horses and the Kentucky Derby.

She is preceded in death by her father, sisters Nancy (Games) Perry, Mary Margaret (Games) Hawkins, and Barbara Jean (Janie) Games. She is survived by her husband John Raiford, Daughter Kelly (Raiford) Moore and son-in-law Brian Moore, daughter Kristen Raiford, son John Raiford and daughter-in-law Donna (Cross) Raiford. Bonus children include daughter Heather (Clayton) Clemons and son-in-law Chase Clemons, daughter Sara (Clayton) Oliver and son-in-law Scott Oliver, son Dan Clayton and daughter-in-law Alannah Clayton, son Colin Clayton and daughter-in-law Anna Clayton and seven grandchildren, Luke, Ben, Elliott, Margot, Henry, Nolan, and Benjamin.

Funeral services will be held at Jeffcoat-Trant in Opelika, AL. Visitation on Wednesday, September 13th from 5pm-7pm, and the Memorial Service on Thursday, September 14th at 11am. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her name to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.