V.I.P. remembers Carmen Carter

This week Selma lost a good woman. Carmen Thomas Carter was a strong Christian woman. She was a hard working woman and a good mother to her kids and grand kids and a good provider to all of them. She was also a good wife to her husband. She was also a real friend to those of us who were lucky enough to have known her. My prayers go out to the family.

Being visually impaired, I was shunned by most of everybody in school but Carmen. For some reason she accepted me for what I was and befriended me. Carmen and I went to school together and she was one of my best friends through school.

(Carmen is pictured in this photo receiving a customer service award in July 2010)

She adopted me and became my best friend. She did not mind taking a stand for something that was right and for putting a good cussing out on someone who had it coming to them for doing me wrong and beating them up if they tried to hurt me. You do not find many folks like that.

I remember one time in class the teacher and fellow students made fun of me for not being able to see the black board. This made Carmen very angry and she told the whole class they did not have to worry about William. She was going to take care of him and she did from that day forward. We took classes together and sat close to each other so she could take notes and right things off the black board for me and even read to me if I needed it.

I got in a tizzy in a new class one day because we were not close to each other and shouted out CARMEN!!!!! I heard her say, "It is ok William I am here. I have already wrote down the info for you, it's ok!"

Carmen never felt sorry for me though. She always pushed me. She always told me when I did a good job and when I could do better and that I needed to work harder. She was special in that way of encouraging me and she knew when to do it.

She worked for several catering companies in town and worked events that I attended and when she saw me she always talked to me at those events and watched out for me. She even fixed my plate for me and watched out for me there to make sure I got what I wanted. She always said, "I watched out for you all these year and I am not going to stop now." There were a lot of times I was more interested in talking to her more than hearing the speaker I was there to hear.

She was real and you always knew where you stood with her. She either loved or didn't. I am glad I was one she chose to love and not one she didn't. I saw the one's she was against and the one's she liked and glad she was a friend and not an enemy.
To the family I say, we were blessed for 45 years to know Carmen and we are all better for having her in our life. I owe a lot of my success in life to Carmen, because she helped me when she did not have to and it would have been so easy for me to give up and quit but she would not let me. She was there in high school during a crucial time where I needed to graduate. She always helped me find a way to do something and feel a part of the world.

The last time I saw her she told me of her illness and that she was going to be ok. "GOD is taking care of me." She said and for me not to worry. I told her I would be glad to help her if she needed me to but she told me again. "GOD was taking care of her." And he did. He must have had a special project for her in Heaven. I know she has a spot picked out for all of her real friends and family next to her when we get there. We love you and will miss you Carmen. Thanks for making a positive difference in my life and taking a stand for me that was not so popular at the time and for not minding to do so. So long for now my friend we will meet again. Rest in peace and GOD BLESS YOU and your family.