James "Jim" Austin Carden

James “Jim” Austin Carden passed away peacefully in his home in Wesley Chapel, Florida on February 26, 2026. 

He is survived by Karen Carden, his wife of 44 years; his sons Austin James Carden (Sally Carden) and Nathan Scott Carden; his grandchildren, Nakoda Carden, Lola Carden, Madden Carden, Manning Carden and Prim Carden, his siblings John Carden, Barbara Newman, Sandra Gray and William Carden and numerous nieces and nephews and his cat Oscar. Jim was preceded in death by his father James Rufus Carden and mother Willadeen James Carden. 

Jim received his Bachelors of Arts from the University of Alabama majoring in Anthropology with minors in religion and history and his Master’s degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham in Special Education for Blind Services. Jim spent his life’s work serving other. He had an extended career of 41 years in serving people with disabilities starting at Gateway Home for Children and later treatment center for emotionally disturbed teenagers. He next worked at St. Andrews Foundation Group home for those diagnosed with mental challenges. While he was in graduate school he worked as a dorm supervisor and substitute teacher at Helen Keller and the School for the Deaf before beginning a lengthy career at the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services (ADRS). During his 35 year tenure at the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services he worked as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the Deaf, Blind and Deaf/blind, a Transition Counselor, an Employment Development Coordinator, a Data Management Specialist, Program Evaluation Specialist, Assistant Commissioner for Deaf and Blind Services, Interim Dean at the E. H. Gentry Technical Facility, and Deputy Commissioner for ADRS. Jim touched many lives, always striving to make life better for those he served. He was a servant leader who demonstrated that a person makes a living by what he gets; but he makes a life by what he gives. However, he considered his greatest accomplishment to be a loving husband, father and “Big Daddy” to his five grandchildren. 

Jim was quiet natured, with a gentle spirit, quick wit, with an incredible depth of knowledge. A calm man until it came to Alabama football. He loved to travel, with he and Karen being fortunate to visit many foreign counties after his retirement. 

Jim’s Celebration of Life will be held March 21st at the Jefferson Memorial Funeral Home at 1591 Gadsden Highway, Trussville, AL 35235. Visitation will be at 11:00 am with the service at noon. 

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the HPH Hospice Chapters Health Affiliate in Wesley Chapel, FL, the Lewy Body Dementia of American Brain Foundation, the Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, or the Alabama Institute for Deaf and Blind.