JSU Trustee Carlisle Dies
By Nick Cenegy
Star Staff Writer
11-08-2007

Reprinted here in its entirety.

Gladys Carlisle, 66, a distinguished member of the Jacksonville State University Board of Trustees died Nov. 5 at DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa of complications from a battle with cancer.

She is remembered as a faithful trustee and a tireless advocate for students, said JSU President Dr. Bill Meehan.

“She served for nearly a quarter century without missing a single meeting until she was diagnosed with cancer last year,” he said.

Carlisle was a native of Tuscaloosa and taught in high schools there for 35 years before retiring and joining the JSU board in 1984.

Fellow board member Jamie “Red” Etheredge said he remembers when Carlisle was named to the board.

“The way the seat assignments worked out she ended up right next to me,” he said. “She was one of the most delightful and gracious people I have known.”

Etheredge said he and Carlisle shared a common West Alabama heritage and identified immediately with each other.

At the time of her death, Carlisle was serving as a member of the board but had announced her plans to leave after 23 years at the expiration of her current term in January.

Etheredge said he was surprised by how quickly her illness descended upon her.

“I teased her saying they’d have to shut the school down if she left the board,” he said.

Less than a month ago Carlisle was on hand to cut the ribbon at a fine arts facility dedicated in her honor.

In her time on the board she served on the Executive and Building Committees and as the Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee.

Etheredge said Carlisle fought to keep educational value for students high and tuition low. She was a constant champion of new programs that would benefit JSU students. He attributes much of her concern for students to her wealth of experience as a teacher.

“I hope when my years are up I will have left as profound a legacy as she did,” he said. “We will certainly miss her very much.”

Funeral services will be held Nov. 9, at 12 p.m. at Bailey Tabernacle CME Church, 1117 23rd Avenue, Tuscaloosa. Dr. W. C. Jones will officiate. Burial will follow in Memory Hill Gardens with Rollins’ Mortuary directing. She will lie in state at the church one hour prior to funeral time. The family requests donations be sent to the JSU Foundation in lieu of flowers.

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