Nona Ruth Neasley Carroll

Nona’s Creeds: If they knew better, they would do better – forgive them; Where peace does not abide, dust your feet; Walk softly and carry a big Bible.

Nona Ruth Neasley Carroll lived a life of love and service. She was born on May 19, 1926 in Altheimer, Arkansas to John Henry Neasley and Mary Barnett Neasley and was the youngest of three children. They were a good, religious family and her mother, in Nona’s eyes, was the best, smartest, and most devoted and hard-working mother. At the age of seven, her family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and at the age of twelve, she professed her faith in Christ.

She was educated in the St. Louis school system through the 11th grade when she fell in love with Arthur Carroll. Arthur was drafted into the Army during WWII, Nona and Arthur’s 67-year marriage began before he was shipped overseas. Nona was not allowed to finish high school because in those days if you were married, you could not finish high school.

Nona was determined to get a high school diploma, though.

While supervising one of the largest and best Concentrated Employment Programs (and also being the only female director in the USA) she went to Washington High School in Los Angeles, California, despite the objection of her executive director. She earned her high school diploma, and her director said, “You are supervising staff where some have Master’s Degrees and you want a high school diploma, which you do not need; What if one of your staff sees you in class?” to which Nona replied, “So?” The director said, “If you are that determined, I am coming to your graduation.” It was held at the Hollywood Bowl and her mother, husband, son, sister, and director all attended.

Nona’s work career started at the Internal Revenue Service. Nona was also the first black hired at Pet Milk Company and Nabisco in St. Louis.

Arthur, Nona, and their son Keith Andre moved to Los Angeles in 1963 and she became the first assistant to the President of McDermott Agency in Beverly Hills, the first in management at Carnation Milk Company, the first Personnel Director at May Company in 23 stores in Southern California. Additionally, she was the first female Director at the CEP, (Concentrated Employment Program), in America. As the first black Executive VP of a major computer firm she secured a 90-million-dollar contract with the United States Armed Forces. She was the first black female to qualify for a GS-13 federal employment grade.

Uniquely Nona, she became a brown high fashion model in St. Louis – a job usually reserved to fair skinned people.

The Neasley and Barnett’s family tradition and commitment to service were reflected in her decision to become actively involved in professional and civic organizations. She was a member of Brotherhood Crusade, the LA Urban League of Mafundi Institute, the Advisory Board District Attorney and Attorney General for the State of California, President of Summerlin Women for two terms, and President of JUGS International, (Justice, Unity, Generosity, Service, International, Inc.) for two terms. Nona was a member of Southern Nevada Coalition of Concerned Women in Las Vegas, she wrote columns for several newspapers and taught Black Studies at UCLA and USC. She won numerous awards and received letters of commendation from JF Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson, Ronald Regan, Senator Alan Cranston, Maxine Walters, and Diane Watson. She won a Rose Award and a Black Woman of Achievement Award from the NAACP in 1987. Nona was appointed to the office of the Child Care Licensing Board in Las Vegas and assisted in founding the Bricks Drug Quit program.

N ow

O nce upon a time, there was a cute little girl named

N ona; she and a rather handsome, rugged gentleman named

A rthur Carroll met

A lthough the meeting was

R ather strained, mostly because of his lack of

T act, in his mind, this young lady was

H igh on his list of prospects. He felt a great sense of

U rgency, since he had decided,

R omance or not, this was to be his wife.

C aution to the wind,

A cute little girl like this is a

R ich,

R ich blessing from God.

O nly God can

L ove her more than I. I will

L ove Nona forever, and she loves me.

Nona had many accomplishments in life, but the essence of her spirit was her trademark LOVE of GOD, a warmth and forgiveness, her zest for style and living, her sense of humor. This is who she really was. Arthur always said he loved Nona even more for her ability to forgive. Arthur would get so upset when she was good to people and viewed them as her friends even though he thought they were just using her good heart. He soon found out that when she was aware someone was trying to use her, she would drop them like a hot potato, never to be picked up again.

She loved music, loved to cook and entertain. And did she ever love to dress, and always smelled so good. Nona loved Arthur, Keith, her mother, loved and adored her big brother, John Clinton Neasley, and her friends. She loved and forgave her father for abandoning them.

Although she knew the Bible, she was not always pushing it down others thoughts. Nona fervently believed in prayer and God. Everything she was, knew and did she said was a gift from God and that it was her duty to help where ever she could.

Nona was proceeded in death by her parents, husband, brother, sister, adopted niece Ornetta Barber and her adopted daughter Darlene Russell. Her legacy is carried on by her son, Keith Andre Carroll; family acquired by love, Carlos, Pamela, Carlee, Kaylee and Charmaine Hank Williams; Debbie T. Mitchell, Yolan Matthews, Robert Strawder (Straw), Bill Minson, Cassandra Black, Keimah Hugh, Drew Hugh, Rosemary Miller, Kim Johnson, Donita Williams, her caregiver Melanie Michelle Guthery, and a host of other family and friends…