Carole Hawes Bond

Carole Hawes Bond, of Baton Rouge, born to Truman Post Hawes Jr. and Gladys Bennett Hawes July 3, 1938, peacefully transitioned to the next life on December 2, 2024, from Alzheimer's dementia at the age of 86.

Carole attended University Lab School, U High and LSU, where she pledged KD. As a teen in the fifties, Carole was introduced to theatre through her father, Truman Hawes's involvement in the establishment and early evolution of the Baton Rouge Little Theater -back when the venue was at the old Harding Field (airport), subsequently appearing in "The Reluctant Debutante" (1958/59 season) and the inaugural performance at the new Florida Blvd venue location, "Teahouse of the August Moon," as Lotus Blossom (1961/62 season), among others.

After graduating LSU with her teaching degree, Carole was a dedicated and gifted elementary school teacher in the 1960s. She married Clinton Ward Bond Jr. of Baton Rouge, graduate of the Naval Academy and had two daughters.

Carole was active in Baton Rouge's civic scene in the 1970s. She conceptualized and headed up projects like the Arbor Day Plant-a-Tree program (including efforts to grant protected, heritage status to our older, historical live oaks) and the Bicentennial Music Show (1976), a musical review of patriotic and other musical standards (sponsored by the Bicentennial Commission and EBRP school board ), which toured the city, playing the LSU Union Theater, the Old State Capitol and various local high schools. While directing this as well as many other high school musical productions, she teamed up with beloved choral director and friend, Margerie Blocker. 

Carole envisioned a very festive way of helping to reinvigorate downtown BR when she came up with the idea of stringing Christmas lights in the trees along North Blvd and worked with the city to organize this feat that had never been done before, overseeing every detail of design and electrification of this strip of trees (with very hands-on involvement!) The impressive display was another labor of love to her community that would evolve into what is now recognized as Baton Rouge’s oldest holiday tradition, the Festival of Lights.

In the mid-eighties, after a long absence from performing and still recovering from a debilitating brain operation, Carole decided to return to the stage, working again with long-time friend, pianist and composer, Terry Byers, this time acting in one of his original, religious-themed musicals and joining the cast of "Picnic" (1986/87 season) back at her beloved Little Theater. After such a dark season health wise, it was an act of self-challenge as much as a therapeutic affirmation of life.

And there was much life yet to be lived. She developed her interest in the visual arts, working mostly in acrylic paint and oil pastels and even dabbled in jewelry making. Through her teaching, direction, choreography and civic work Carole's legacy and impact has been felt by many.

Carole is survived by her daughter, Jenny Bond and her granddaughter, Megan Stinson. She was preceded in death by her parents, Truman and Gladys Hawes, her husband, Ward Bond and her daughter, Julie Stinson. She is also survived by an older brother, Truman Hawes of Lafayette and a younger brother, Owen Hawes of Baton Rouge.

There will be a simple, natural/eco burial in the country. If led, one can commemorate the occasion with a donation to any animal charity or no-kill shelter that helps cats.