Meet Abby

Abby Burke Carroll is a lifelong resident of Athens, Tennessee, where she lives in the Tellico Hills neighborhood with her daughter, Sophie, and their three dogs — Peyton, Parton, and Pluto. She comes from a close-knit family and enjoys spending time with her parents, Fred and Tonya Burke, and her sisters, Brittany and Maddi.

Abby grew up attending Athens City Schools and graduated from McMinn County High School in 2009. She earned her Bachelor of Science in History from Tennessee Wesleyan University in 2012, followed by her law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law in 2015, where she focused on advocacy and dispute resolution.

Since returning home, Abby has built her legal career serving the same community that raised her. After several years in general litigation, she now works as an Assistant Public Defender in the 10th Judicial District, representing individuals across a wide range of cases and serving as a liaison to the district’s Recovery Courts. Her work has earned widespread recognition, including a nomination for Tennessee Public Defender of the Year in 2024.

Service has always been a central part of Abby’s life. In law school, she led the UT College of Law Pro Bono program and helped coordinate legal aid clinics throughout East Tennessee, earning multiple public service awards. Since then, she has remained actively involved in the community — as a member of the Athens City Schools Board of Education from 2017-2025, as a volunteer, coordinator, and committee member with the McMinn Warming Center, as a board member of the United Methodist Church’s Camp Lookout, and as a former board member for organizations like Grace & Mercy Ministries.

Abby is also an active member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church, where she has worked with youth programs and church initiatives for many years. A firm believer in the power of education and always striving to better herself, she is currently pursuing a Master of Divinity degree through Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary.

Abby believes in practical, steady leadership rooted in community — listening carefully, working hard, and showing up when it matters. It’s the same approach she’s brought to her work and public service, and one she hopes to bring to the Athens City Council.