Karen Lynn Best-Jarrett

Karen Lynn Best-Jarrett, born on January 19, 1950, passed away on January 30, 2026, at the age of 76. Karen was a longtime resident of Ellicott City, MD.

Karen retired from Amtrak Railroad, where she worked as a Crew Dispatcher, and various other positions within the company. During her career, she built lifelong friendships with many colleagues from Philadelphia, New York City, and beyond.

Karen enjoyed family outings and capturing memories through photographs, traveling by train and cruise, and cooking Southern-style meals. Karen had a creative spirit and loved cross-stitch, embroidery, reading—especially drama and historical fiction—playing solitaire, and watching black-and-white movies. Her love of music included gospel and jazz favorites such as Mahalia Jackson, Aretha Franklin, and Luther Vandross. A woman of strong faith, Karen was a Christian who cherished babysitting and being surrounded by family.

Karen was married to her beloved spouse, Dwight Harold Jarrett Sr., with whom she shared a life since 1996. She was a devoted mother to Delain and Kawan Best, and a loving bonus mother to Lakiesha, Lavinia, Dawuan, and Dwight Jr. (Gessica). She was a cherished grandmother to Dhaleem, Reid “Reidy,” and Isaiah, as well as a bonus grandmother and “Nanny” to many.

She will be deeply missed by her special friend Sharon and her husband Vaughn, her dear friend Glenda Collier of Long Beach, CA., many Philadelphia, PA friends, and her extended Amtrak family.

Karen was preceded in death by her father, Solomon Thompson (Frances); her mother, Verna Mae Stokes; her brother, James Stokes Jr; and her bonus brother George Stokes; Loving Aunts, Clarice Richardson; Virginia Schwartz; and Rosemary Thompson; Grandmother, Mayme Williams and Grandfather, Clarence Williams.

She is survived by her sisters, Vivian J. Stokes-Smallwood, and Edith Thompson; her brothers, Kevin Thompson (Maria) and Mark Thompson (Ericka). Her bonus brothers, Anthony Stokes Sr. (Kim), Carlthan Stokes (Michelle), Kevin Stokes, and her bonus sister, Sheila Stokes. Her nieces Qawana Butler (Tonia), and Reseda Butler, and her nephews Hubert and Wesley Stokes, as well as many other nieces and nephews. Karen is lovingly remembered by her cousins Michael, Debbie, Denise Thompson, Jeffrey, Jay (Jackie), and the late Marty Richardson.