Carrie Lucielle Perry

Carrie Lucille Perry was born July 25, 1925 in St. Louis, Missouri to George Henry and Willie Lucille Taylor. Carrie was preceded in death by both parents, her brothers, Bennie J. Taylor, Sgt. Raleigh Taylor, James Taylor, John Taylor, sisters Bessie B. Hale, Julia McNeil, daughter Deborah A. Harris and granddaughter Britt I. Johnson. She was the last survivor of 22 siblings. Carrie lost her mother at the age of twelve (12) however, she never agreed to be defeated in life and faithful to that determination and spirit she graduated from Banneker Elementary School and later received her high school diploma from St. Joseph High School for Negroes. She was a devout Catholic all of her life, a faith she instilled in her children and continued to share with her entire family throughout her life. In the face of any challenges in life she would always repeat “we are blessed” and with that faith she helped so many of her family and friends see the power and truth in those words. She met and married George C. Perry, Sr. in 1945 and to this union three (3) children were born; Lillian, George, Jr. and Deborah. She believed in the power of work and she was a tireless worker, employed with Bussman Fuse Company for over thirty (30) years, both at the St. Louis and later Ellisville, Missouri plants. During this same time she also successfully sold Avon products. Carrie dedicated her entire life to her beloved children and her family, for them no sacrifice was ever too great. God favored her with a beautiful singing voice and as children we would often listen to her sing Sarah Vaughn or Dinah Washington tunes around the house. We shall never forget her voice. She always enjoyed music, playing cards, a good joke, sports, especially tennis, shopping at the thrift stores for bargains and occasionally trying her luck at the casinos. She was a faithful fan of the “Young and the Restless” and “The Bold & the Beautiful” for many years. We all knew not to call her during that time each day. Following her retirement her activities included serving as a volunteer at various food pantries and each year at the annual holiday charity events at Most Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church and St. Elizabeth’s Mother of John the Baptist Catholic Church. Following the merger of these two (2) churches she would be seen every Sunday at the 7:30 am mass at St. Elizabeth’s Mother of John the Baptist Catholic Church, seated in her familiar pew surrounded by her circle of friends. Carrie was a fiercely private, strong, loving and determined spirit throughout her life. She did not ask for much from you nor would she take too much off of you, soft-spoken most times but ready to “set you straight” when the time arose. Her values, gentle sweetness and powerful will constantly guided and nurtured her family and friends. She proudly lived her life on her own terms with courage, love and grace and she proudly left this life on her own terms with that same courage, love and grace. She truly earned her nickname “The Greatest”. There is no greater legacy. She leaves to cherish her memory a daughter, Lillian Gray; a son, George C. Perry, Jr.; sons-in-law John E. Harris, III and Norris Gray; grandsons, David A. Harris and John E. Harris IV; granddaughters Carla M. Harris, Natasha J. McLeod and great grandsons Jalen A. Wright and Xavier A. Wright. She also leaves to mourn her loving nieces, nephews, cousins, grandnephews, grandnieces, god-daughters, close friends and a host of others

Carrie Lucielle Perry

July 25, 1925 - June 18, 2014