Deanna Carr Woodall passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2026, at her house in The Villages, Fla. She was formerly known as Deanna Dunlap from Paris.
A celebration of life gathering will be held from 1-3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19, 2026, at the Paris-Henry County Heritage Center in Paris, Tenn. Friends and community members are invited to attend, share memories, and honor her enduring musical legacy.
Born on Oct. 13, 1937, to the late Elvis Carr and Nina Thieme Carr in Chillicothe, Mo., Deanna pursued a lifelong dedication to music and her community.
Music was the language of her heart. She began playing organ and piano for her church in Trenton, Mo., at just 9 years old. By the age of 6, she was already skillfully playing piano, and in high school she realized she possessed a rare gift — not only for piano, but for mastering a variety of instruments. She went on to earn her master’s degree in education as a music specialist and devoted her life to sharing that gift with others.
Whether seated at the piano, directing a choir, or guiding a classroom, Deanna believed music could lift the spirit and bring people together. She composed music, directed hand bell choirs for children at First Presbyterian Church in Paris, Tenn., and led boys’ and girls’ choirs with passion and precision. She served as director of the Paris Choral Society and was deeply committed to nurturing young musicians in her community.
Throughout her career, she took soloists and musical groups to state competitions where they consistently earned high ratings. Her students performed in distinguished venues, including Carnegie Hall in New York. She established the string program at Inman Middle School, further expanding opportunities for young musicians.
Her influence extended beyond the classroom. She provided music lessons on television for the University of Tennessee at Martin, broadening access to music education across the region. After retiring from the public school system, she concluded her formal teaching career at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, Tenn.
Deanna’s passion for education also extended into historical preservation. She envisioned the idea of a teaching museum and, through her volunteer leadership, became a driving force behind the formation of the Heritage Center in Paris, Tenn. — a lasting testament to her vision and dedication to preserving local history and education.
In her later years, she shared her life with her husband, C.A. Woodall, with whom she made her home in Florida. Together they built a life marked by companionship and a shared love of music.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Elvis Carr and Nina Thieme Carr, and by her husband, C.A. Woodall.
She is survived by her sister, Linda (Arlan) Carr of Rolla, Mo.; three children: Sheri Erwin of Hazel, Ky., Vince (Janie) Marshall of Utah; and Jeff Marshall of Paris, Tenn.
She also leaves behind two grandchildren, Megan (Chase) Ottway of Murray, Ky.; and Jeffrey (Courtney) Marshall of Troy, Tenn.; as well as four great-grandchildren: Clay and Bailey Ottway of Murray, Ky.; and Rowan and Raider Marshall of Troy, Tenn.
Though she has laid down her earthly instrument, those who loved her find comfort in imagining her once again seated at a piano, where many believe she is now playing among the heavenly choirs.