Carol Joy Benoit Born
Carol Joy Benoit Born, 57, of Beaumont, died Sunday, December 7, 2025. She was born on December 22, 1967, to Judi Johnston Benoit and Ronald Benoit, in Beaumont.
Carol Joy had spent all 35 years of her teaching career with Hardin-Jefferson ISD and was voted Teacher of the Year at China Elementary for the 2020-2021 school year.
Survivors include her husband, Kevin Born; daughters, Laura Zaro and her partner, Matt Norris, of China and Anna Clifton and her husband, Alex Bryan, of Houston; bonus children, Stephanie Born of Tyler, Sean Born and his wife, Lakin Born, of Montgomery, and Syndie Born of Groves; mother, Judi Benoit and brother, Chuck Benoit and his wife, Theresa, all of China; grandchildren, Lily Zaro and her father, James Zaro, of China, Blake Born and Hudson Born of Montgomery, and Ashlynn Hill of Tyler; niece and nephew, Emma and William Benoit; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.
She is preceded in death by her father, Ronald Benoit.
Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, Maryland 21741; Julie Rogers Gift of Life Program, 2390 Dowlen Road, Beaumont, Texas 77706; or the Hardin-Jefferson Education Foundation, P.O. Box 357, China, Texas 77613.
A gathering of Mrs. Born’s family and friends will be from 6:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., Sunday, December 14, 2025, at Broussard’s, 1605 North Major Drive, Beaumont. Please join the family for food and fellowship from 4:00 p.m. until 5:30 p.m. in the parish hall with a Celebration of Her Life to begin at 6:00 p.m., Monday, December 15, 2025, at Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, 245 West Highway 90, China. Her cremation arrangements were handled through Broussard’s Crematorium.
Video
Gathering of Family and Friends
Broussard’s Mortuary Major Dr.
- 1605, North Major Drive, Beaumont, Texas, 77713,
- December 14, 2025
- 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
A Meal with her Family
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church
- 245, US 90, China, Texas, 77613,
- December 15, 2025
- 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Celebration of Life
Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church
- 245, US 90, China, Texas, 77613,
- December 15, 2025
- 6:00 pm
Laura… my heart breaks for you and your family. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers. Tell Lilly that our little piggy, Jordan, will see her soon. You are a wonderful human being.
Kevin, I am sorry for your loss, brother. Praying for peace for you and your family.
Dear Judi and Family,
I’m so sorry for your loss.
May God be with you during this time.
With love,
Annette
Thank you dear Annette
I hear so many beautiful comments about Carol. One of God’s angels got her wings. She was a brave fighter for live. Let her live in your hearts forever. When you least expect it, she may come to visit you from time to time. I believe that as in my own life my husband has visited me.
Dear family, our thoughts and prayers are with you all in this very difficult time. Carol Joy was like a ray of sunshine, spreading warmth and happiness to everyone. What a lovely picture of her, such a beautiful smile.
Sending much love from afar,
Reuben, Meghan, Clara, and Vivien
Carol (CJ, Carol Joy), was always a friend since we met in Jr. High. I was so thankful to Facebook for reconnecting us after many years. Being volleyball teammates and me getting to travel with the cheerleaders for basketball state tournaments……Carol was always the bright star! The friend to the awkward teenager I was. My heart is broken for her mom, daughter’s and the entire family. Only the good die young has never been a more accurate phrase! God bless and may she rest in peace watching over us all while she visits with the judge, her daddy.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, as a family, at this time of loss.
Carol Joy truly brought joy into all our lives. She inspired her students, her friends, and her family. I am so proud of her compassion, her hard work ethic, and the love she shared everywhere she went. It is wonderful to reflect on her life and to know that she made a difference. That is the miracle.
Our deepest condolences-words cannot express how Sam and I feel. Carol was sweet, kind, fun, and beautiful. Carol Joy; you are missed by so many of us that love you. God bless you, your family, and friends.
Rest in Peace.
May the Lord bless you all. We loved her. She taught my kiddos and made a lasting image on their learning. Gone too soon.
Mark and we are so sorry for the loss of precious Mrs. Born. She was not only a great and loving teacher to Mark but also helped me a lot to connect with the community during my oral history project for Lamar University. Our heartfelt condolences to all of you. May her kind soul rest in peace.
I’m heartbroken for all of you. It’s so evident how much Carol was loved and adored and the indelible mark she has left on her community. Praying for your comfort and peace at this difficult time.
My sincere condolences to all of Carol Joy’s family, friends and students. May God Bless with peace and comfort in knowing she is with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. On behalf of the Shellhammer Family
To all our Johnston cousins and all of Carol Joy’s family,
We are so sorry for y’all’s loss. Our hearts and prayers are with you. Rita and Matthew Burke
My heart hurts for all of you.May God give His comfort and peace at this sad time.
Heaven gained a perfect angel. Carol was one of the most kind, brave , beautiful and courageous, humans I have ever had the privilege to know. She would give you the shirt off her back, She never met a stranger.
She was an amazing teacher, mother, daughter, sister ,nana and cousin to me. When GOD made her he knew what an important roll she would have in every single persons life she touched. I’ll never say goodbye but until we meet again.
I love you.
Kevin, I am so sorry for your loss and all you have already been through. I happy she is not in pain anymore and I know she will be with you always. My prayers are with you always.
We’re so sorry for your loss. Sending many many prayers for you.
We are very sorry. Carol Joy was and akways will ve a BRIGHT light. Love, prayers, and support for all the family❣️🙏❣️🙏❣️🙏❣️
Judi-Seeing the smile on Carol Joy’s face in this picture says it all. It is a genuine smile that reflects her goodness and love for every life she touched and she touched so many. Her students will probably never forget her. I’m sure she taught them more than just book lessons. As a mother who knows what you’re going through, stay strong for your family, but mainly for yourself. Always remember after the darkness comes the light. I will hold you and your family in my heart as you grieve. Peace be with you all.
May the Lord be with this family in this time of need God bless
JUDY,KEVIN, AND FAMILY , I’M SO HEARTBROOKENFOR ALL. SHE WAS A BEAUTIFUL SOUL, AND WITH HER DADDY FOR CHRISTMAS. YOU ALL ARE IN OUR
THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS. RIP OUR SWEET CAROL JOY. YOU ARE LOVED AND WILL BE MISSED BY MANY.
🌹😇💕😇🌹🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻
Carol Joy was a beautiful soul and will be missed by our community for her sweet presence and the love she had for her family, students and community. I will be praying for her family and students. Thank God we were able to know her.
I only know carol through Facebook posts. My husband went to school with her. I’ve said for years that she seems like the nicest and just a very beautiful person inside and out. He’s always said yes she is I’m so sorry for your loss and praying for all who loved her
I am praying for each of y’all. The grief seems unbearable with the death of a mother or daughter.
It is all consuming. It leaves you paralyzed emotionally.
Be very patient with yourself. It’s more than ok to just breathe right now. Praying for the Great Comforter to be extra close, to all of you, at this time and the years to come.
Judi, my heart breaks for you and your family. There are no words…just please know I’m holding you close in my thoughts and prayers!
My Dear Friend Carol Joy,
How i will miss you, even though we didn’t talk every day we knew if we needed each other we would be there. I love you from the day i met you, because you took care of my baby and I promise i will keep care of yours. They will know if they need me i am here. Kevin, Judi , Laura, Anna, Lilly and Chuck and family I am so sorry that we lost this beautiful soul, but I know she is better off than us. Love you guys.
Our sweet Carol Joy, I have loved you from the day you were born. From singing muffin man rocking all night long to little dribblers adventures to watching you as a mom to your daughters-and Nanna to Lilly – every second you have been a reflection of God’s perfect love. I celebrate your life and memories, as I cherish the thought of you in paradise with Jesus. Laura and Anna and sweet Lilly, Chuck Aunt Judi and Kevin we love y’all and we are here for you.
Kind, loving, devoted and a women with immense courage and exceptional bravery! She will be missed by so many but never forgotten. I am glad I had the chance to know her. Much love!
Such a beautiful and good hearted person. She loved her family, friends, students and pets. She is loved by so many and will be missed terribly. Love you and we will be together again one day. Love you