Carl Edwin Newman Jr.

Carl Edwin Newman Jr of Otto North Carolina passed away on Saturday August 8th, 2026, at the age of 80. He is survived by his sisters Janet Diaz and Teresa Abrams of Anderson SC, his son and daughter-in-law, Kevin Michael Newman and Cynthia Lynn Newman of Helen Georgia, his daughter Laurie Lynn Canning of Allen Texas along with his grandchildren, Samantha Kearns, Cole Canning and Luke Canning.

Carl was born in Anderson South Carolina on June 9, 1946, to Carl Edwin and Frances Dunham Newman. As a child he attended various catholic schools in South Carolina, Louisiana and Florida. Eventually graduating in 1964 from Alfred I duPont High School in Jacksonville. Carl attended Clemson University as member of ROTC from 1964-68 and served in the Air Force from 1969 to 1971. He was married to Kay Kehoe from 1967 to 1980, and their children were born in Florida in 1970 and 1972.

In 1978 he completed his bachelor’s degree at Western Carolina University while living in Otto and entered the MBA program while working on campus in Cullowhee until 1980. His career in Information Technology eventually extended to several employers and industries in North Carolina, Texas and Georgia. He retired as a technology consultant and owner of Newman & Associates in 2008.

The year 1992 began a workplace romance with Ronda Lee Morris but ended with a nearly fatal automobile accident for Carl. Following a lengthy recovery, he was married to Ronda in 1997 but widowed that same year by her death due to breast cancer.

After returning to Otto, North Carolina many times between the chapters of his lifetime, he eventually retired there in the family home. It was purchased by his grandfather, NR Newman in the 1950s and located not too far from the Newman Chapel Baptist Church named for his great grandfather, AJ Newman.

He especially enjoyed watching sports, listening to and playing music, four-legged companions, home cooking, Richard’s garden vegetables and good hooch. He became somewhat of a recluse in his final years, having never quite recovered from the loss of his wife Ronda and the eventual passing of his favorite companion, Lucky Dog, the black lab.

Since 2020, Kevin and Cynthia have lived nearby and been fortunate to be with him for Covid Lockdown, holidays, hospital stays, weekends on the deck and lots of ‘senior care’.

In keeping with his solitary nature, he asked for no service or memorial. His remains will be cremated and scattered near the site of the old barn and the grand old tree where Lucky was also laid to rest.

His memory will be cherished the most by those of us who were able to see beyond the grumpy old man and truly know him as Father, Brother, Grandfather, Friend and Fossil.

Online condolences can be left at www.bryantgrantfuneralhome.com

Bryant-Grant Funeral Home & Crematory is honored to serve the Newman family.