Kathleen Carlton Strom

Kathleen Carlton "Kay" Strom, 86, of Albany, Georgia, passed away peacefully on Friday, September 11, 2026, surrounded by her family.

Kay was born in Albany, Georgia, on January 6, 1940, at Phoebe Putney Memorial Hospital to the late O.D. Carlton and Kathleen Carlton. She graduated from Albany High School in 1958 and attended Pine Manor College before marrying the love of her life, Dr. Walter W. Strom, in 1959.

The Stroms lived in Atlanta while Walter attended dental school at Emory University, returning home to Albany in 1965 following his service in the U.S. Navy. Together, they spent the rest of their lives in Albany raising their family and sharing 59 wonderful years of marriage.

Kay was a faithful member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, The National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, and the Palmyra Heights Garden Club. She was a special friend, mentor, and confidante to many. Her smile was always engaging, and her laugh was truly infectious.

An avid gardener and lover of art, music, and design, Kay lived her life by one of her favorite quotes by Elsie de Wolfe: "I am going to make everything around me beautiful—that will be my life." And indeed, that was Kay's life. She loved all creatures great and small, caring for many over her lifetime. She was an exceptional steward of the land, forever grateful for the bountiful gifts the Lord bestowed upon her family, a generous benefactor to many charities in the Albany area, and someone who always took pure joy in doing for others.

Most of all, Kay was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She adored her sisters, nieces, nephews, and extended family members, and was happiest when kept abreast of the day-to-day activities of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In addition to all of her wonderful attributes, she was, in her children's words, "The Best Mama Ever!"

In addition to her parents, Kay was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Dr. Walter Whitman Strom, Sr., and an infant brother, Ogden Dunaway Carlton Jr.

Survivors include her children, Ivy Strom Lane and her husband, John, of Albany, GA; her son, Walter Whitman "Brother" Strom II of Lee County, GA; and her daughter, Pier Strom Huber and her husband, Paul, of Salt Lake City, UT. She is also survived by her sisters, Corrine "Sister" Martin and her husband, Joe, of Ponte Vedra, FL, and Colleen Yarborough and her husband, Sam, of Inlet Beach, FL; her grandchildren, John Matthew Lane, Jr. and his wife, Hayley, Dr. Morgan Lane Gillam and her husband, Jimmy, Dr. Tyler Ray Strom and his wife, Mackenzie, Bailey  Strom Travis and her husband, Nate , Jones Hewitt Strom, Walter Whitman "Watt" Strom III, John Paul Huber, and Strom Dunaway Huber; and seven great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held Thursday, September 17, 2026, at 11:00 AM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Stephen Norris officiating. The family will receive friends in the Church Parlor immediately following the service. A private committal service will be held at the St. Paul's Episcopal Church Columbarium.