LaVerne D. Carson's Obituary
LaVerne Dorothy Carson died peacefully on Saturday, May 2, 2020. LaVerne was born in Lovejoy, Illinois to Ruben and Lela Hill on September 26, 1933. LaVerne was the twelfth of thirteen children born to the couple. Sadly, only three of LaVerne’s sibling lived past infancy; two older sisters and a brother. Lela Hill died in childbirth and two-year-old LaVerne was adopted by her mother’s best friend Louise Cotton.
LaVerne often shared stories about Louise Cotton, who she affectionately called “Mama”. Mama had minimal formal education but was endowed with tremendous wisdom and keen insight. She was a giving, Christian woman with the warmest of hearts, showering kindness on everyone she met. One of Mama’s major goals was to ensure that LaVerne received a solid education in order to excel and achieve in life. Mama continually stressed the importance of learning and encouraged LaVerne to focus on her studies and aspirations.
LaVerne’s elementary education was completed in Lovejoy, Illinois. She came to California and graduated from San Francisco’s High School of Commerce in 1950. She was nurtured and cared for by Elizabeth Davis, her cousin who loved LaVerne tremendously and was known as “Nana” to her daughters and grandchildren. It was during her stay in San Francisco that LaVerne decided to become a physician. Financial resources were not available for LaVerne to become a doctor, so she reset her goals and pursued nursing as a career. In order to save for tuition LaVerne worked as a key punch operator from 1950 through mid-1951 at the Veteran’s Administration in St. Louis, Missouri during the Korean conflict.
In September of 1951, LaVerne began nursing training at St. Mary’s Infirmary for the Colored in St. Louis, Missouri. Three years later she received her diploma and licenses to practice as a registered nurse in Missouri, Illinois and later California. She worked at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, IL before permanently relocating to the San Francisco Bay Area in the early 1960’s where she met and married her husband, Rothell Carson. She resided with her husband in their home in Menlo Park where they raised their three daughters, Adriene, Candice and Leslie.
In 1989 after a seven-year fight with cancer, Rothell Carson passed away at home. LaVerne, who had nursed her husband through his illness, continued to work full-time at the VA Hospital until she retired in 1993 after 35 years of service.
LaVerne thoroughly enjoyed retirement. Gardening and walking kept LaVerne active along with her church and volunteer activities. LaVerne loved roses and meticulously cared for more than 35 rose bushes in a variety of colors. She was a long-time member of St. John’s Baptist Church in East Palo Alto, where, like her roses, she lovingly cared for new members of the church. She was a member of Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) as well. Always passionate about health and wellness, she actively volunteered for the African American Community Health Advisory Committee. She enrolled in painting classes and enjoyed painting landscapes and nature scenes. She traveled to places that were of interest to her, including the Caribbean, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii and Jerusalem.
LaVerne was a warm-hearted, sincere, and gracious woman. She always had an ear to listen and a word of encouragement, support and wisdom to her daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and anyone else who had a need. She had a keen mind; liked word puzzles and could also play a mean game of bid whist! She also would attempt to fix anything that was broken. Her girls would lovingly call her “The Rigger” because she would just “rig” broken things and make them work. She was a nurse by nature, always caring for others in their time of need. She was gracious, forgiving and accepting of all people. LaVerne also could be firm and determined and had a strong sense of integrity. She showed love by serving, doing and giving her time, talents, resources and encouragement to family and friends.
LaVerne continued to reside in her home in Menlo Park, until 2014. She had been a resident of Woodside RCFE, in Castro Valley for almost five years when she passed.
Laverne is survived by her three daughters and their husbands; one granddaughter and two grandsons; and a host of nephews, nieces, friends as well as four women who are a part of her circle of “daughters”.
Due to the Coronavirus private funeral services will be held on Monday, May 11, 2020 at 12 pm at Skylawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park.
The family requests that donations be made to: The Alzheimer’s Association, (https://alz.org) or The American Cancer Society (https://www.cancer.org/). For those who would like to send flowers please do so before the funeral to Skylawn Funeral Home and Memorial Park at Skyline Boulevard, Highway 92, San Mateo, California, 94402.
Our family is so touched by the tremendous outpouring of love and care from family, friends and her St. John Church Family during our Mom’s years of illness. We so appreciate and are also grateful for your kind expressions of condolences.
We are so thankful to the staff at Woodside RCFE who has become like family to us. They lovingly nurtured and cared for Mom with the utmost love over the years. Many thanks to Pathways Hospice Care of Oakland as well for providing such wonderful care and guidance. Majestic Care Transportation, we thank you for providing such caring professional service. Lastly, to Dr. Madan, Mom’s loving physician, we are forever grateful.
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