Living A Life That Counts
Carol Downs has been surrounded by accountants for many years. There’s a common denominator to their success.
Words by Stephen W. B. Rizzo | Images by Blakeney Clouse
If you’ll pardon the pun, Carol Downs has truly lived a life that counts. Although she has a degree in accounting from Samford University, Carol is quick to point out that she is not a CPA. “I’ve never filled out a tax return, not even my own,” she confesses.
Accounting, nonetheless, has been at the center of her life’s story, as she has been surrounded most of her life by accountants, including her late husband, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and both of her children.
Carol’s story begins with her marriage to “Big” Joe Downs. After they wed, Joe accepted a position as an accountant in Atlanta in 1970. “During that time, I didn’t work outside the home,” she explains.
Following stints in Augusta, Georgia, and Clearwater, Florida, during which they added a son, Joe, and daughter, Amy, Big Joe and Carol finally made Jasper their home. “I’m from Mountain Brook, but I wouldn’t go back. I love Jasper!” she says.
After working for Drummond Company for a time, Big Joe opened his own accounting firm and the Downs business was born. The original office was in a trailer where the Bank of Walker County is now located. Over time the business grew. In 2008, the Downs offices relocated inside a beautiful Victorian home on 1stAvenue East, where Carol now has a tidy, second-floor office.
With obvious joy, Carol discusses how she loves working with her family in the accounting firm. “But I keep work and family time separate, except with my son, Joe,” she says. “His schedule is so full that sometimes I have to make an appointment just to see him.”
“We used to call him ‘Little Joe’, but he is 6’ 4” now,” she adds with a touch of humor.
According to Carol, “accounting is boring” with bank reconciliations, spreadsheets and the like. “But you never know what’s going to walk into the office!” she adds with a wry smile. “Some of our clients haven’t filed taxes in ten years and some have broken the law. Many of those who haven’t filed don’t owe anything or might be due a refund. For the ones who owe back taxes… the IRS will let them make payments. [But] for the ones who’ve broken the law, we have a lawyer we call.”
Accounting, she explains, is like any other job working with the public; some people are pleasant to work with, some not. “It’s OK to share that. They probably know who they are,” she laughs.
Yet, Carol Downs’ life doesn’t just count for her clients. It also counts in her adopted hometown of Jasper because of her passion in service to God and to her community. She spends much of her time in worship and ministry at First Baptist of Jasper, where she is a member, and at Glory Fellowship Baptist Church. “The first thing I should say is I’m passionate about the Lord,” Carol says. “I’m also passionate about my grandchildren. I have two girls and a boy.”
Carol has also served on the boards of numerous organizations, including Daybreak Family Resource Center, Arc of Walker County, Walker County Chamber of Commerce, and Capstone Rural Health Center. She is an avid lover of animals (her Great Dane, Millie, was featured in the April/May 2017 issue of 78 Magazine) and in the late 70s, helped establish the Walker County Humane Society. In conjunction with local veterinarians, the WCHS operates a program called Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR) which captures feral cats, neuters or spays them, and then releases them.
But dogs and cats are not the only animals in need of help. Large animals, such as horses, are her concern as well. “It’s amazing how many people don’t understand that you can’t just keep a horse tied up with a rope,” Carol laments. The Cowboy Church on Fall City Road, in partnership with the Humane Society, places sick and abused horses for rehabilitation. That’s just one example of the good that Carol’s passion has fostered in Jasper and the surrounding area.
With all that’s going on, Carol shows no signs of slowing down—“I don’t know what I’d do if I retired,” she says, smiling. That’s a good thing for Jasper and Walker County, especially when, like Carol Downs of Downs & Associates, you are living a life that counts. 78