FORT WORTH, Texas — Groundbreaking educator Judith Carrier, the first president of Tarrant County College Southeast in Arlington and the first woman to lead any TCC campus, has passed away. She died July 5 in Fort Worth, two days shy of her 88th birthday.
A funeral service will be held Thursday, July 17, at Greenwood Funeral Home in Fort Worth.
When TCC Southeast opened in 1995, she was right there. Her leadership reflected a passionate advocacy for students, innovative academic and technical programs, and strong partnerships with local businesses and community organizations.
She shaped TCC Southeast into a vibrant hub for student success. Despite being designed for 5,000 students, the campus maxed out within four years, and its student body ranked second largest in TCC.
“With heavy hearts, the Tarrant County College community mourns the passing of Dr. Judith Carrier, a true pioneer who embodied the Trailblazer spirit in every sense,” said Chancellor Elva LeBlanc. “Dr. Carrier’s visionary leadership, dedication to student success and tireless service to education leaves an enduring legacy. Her influence will echo through the lives she touched, the institutions she shaped, and the countless students she empowered.”
Motivated by a commitment to educational equity, Dr. Carrier championed scholarships and student financial support throughout her career and into retirement. In 2011 she endowed the Dr. Judith J. Carrier Scholarship, which benefits TCC students in need. She also contributed annually to the TCC Foundation, helping cover books and tuition for countless students.
Her influence extended far beyond the College. A civic leader of remarkable distinction, she broke barriers as the first woman president of the Rotary Club of Fort Worth and the first woman chair of the Executive Board of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce. Her leadership inspired collaboration between education and industry, creating lasting opportunities for students and the community.
Dr. Carrier’s influence included decades of dedication to the First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth, where she taught adult classes and supported the church’s downtown mission. She served on more than 40 academic and civic boards, including the Fort Worth Library Foundation, the Baylor University School of Nursing Advisory Board and the Boy Scouts of America Longhorn Council.
Over the years Dr. Carrier received numerous honors, including the University of North Texas Distinguished Alumna Award and the prestigious Mary Smith Lockwood Medal for Education from the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution. In 2014 TCC named the TCC Southeast library the Judith J. Carrier Library.
Born Judith Ann Jones on July 7, 1937, in Jefferson City, Mo., Dr. Carrier was one of six children. Her family relocated to Houston, where she spent her formative years. She earned a journalism degree from the University of Houston, followed by a master’s in counseling and a doctorate in education from the University of North Texas.
To make a memorial gift to the Dr. Judith J. Carrier Endowed Scholarship, visit https://foundation.tccd.edu.
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