Carmelin Gordon

Mom, Carmelin Gordon, 87 years old, was a brave, caring, persevering, industrious, spirited soul who was also known as Carmen, Dill Duck, Dee, Ms. G., Mommy G., Grandma and Gigi. She transitioned to her heavenly home on April 19, 2025, while in hospice. She finished the race and kept the faith.

Carmelin was born on February 10th, 1938, in Porus, Manchester in Jamaica, West Indies as the eighth of 11 children to her parents Augustus and Miriam Spencer. She graduated with less than an eighth-grade education but was very proud of her skills to spell rapidly and recall her “sums”. At the age of 11 years old, her mother died and shortly after, Carmelin was sent to stay with her eldest sister, Polly. While with her sister, she learned to cook, knit, crochet, sew, plant and harvest. She spoke endearingly about her early years and loved her island of Jamaica, where she ate succulent mangos, climbed ackee and coconut trees and walked a mile or more to school each day. She fondly recalled her dad, ’Pa Gus’, who encouraged all his children to memorize and recite Psalm 23, which became one of her favorite bible passages.

Her move from Jamaica to England in 1960 is where she married and gave birth to her first daughter Sandra who died due to pneumonia at 12 months of age. Two years following on a hot summer London afternoon, she gave birth to her second daughter, Ann Marie. London was her home for the next 10 years with times of joy, laughter and turmoil but she held onto Psalm 23. She left London to travel across the seas to the United States for “a better life” and arrived in New York not knowing what her next path would be but believed there had to be more. At that time, she leaned on family members who graciously helped her with lodging and securing work. Most of all she was supported in her decision to fully trust Christ as her helper and Lord. She then faithfully trusted God after accidents, breast cancer and even the loss of a marriage. For over 40 years she worked in various cities in the New York and Long Island areas as a certified nursing assistant for which she received many outstanding achievement awards for her excellent demeanor and care toward her residents.

In Melbourne, Florida from 2002 to 2020 she effortlessly hosted and cooked codfish fritters, enjoyed sitting by the pool, dancing to music and reminisced of “old Jamaica days” with her extended family. During this time, she attended Eastwind Pentecostal Church where she participated in a prayer group and small group bible study. She spent days reading her large red tattered bible held together with tape and verses covered in pink highlight. Bible reading was her joy and special time. She treasured reading the entire bible twice and memorized large portions of the book of Psalms.

She had an amazing gift to revive wilted plants back to life and create anything from old scraps of fabric. She sat and crocheted blankets for friends and family and made hats for herself from leftover yarn. To her, nothing was wasted. Christmas tree ornaments and intricate dollies for her home were also results of her gifted hands. She will be remembered for her love of life and family, joy of music, infectious laugh, creativity, enjoyment of good food, encouragement to trust God and most of all her dancing feet with hands raised to heaven. She trusted God even in the toughest times of her life and was not ashamed to tell others she loved Him and to “keep praying, He knows!”. She often sat, looked heavenward and exclaimed, “Jesus! I love you; I love you; I love you!”

She is survived by her daughter Ann Marie Butler, son-in-law Arthur Butler, three grandchildren Alana Craft, Andrea Butler and Allen Butler, grandson-in-law Jordan Craft and great grandson Xavier Craft. In addition, four siblings, Leslie Spencer, Clifford Spencer, Lester Spencer and Amy Beadle, many nieces, nephews, their children and loving friends.

“Thank you, Jesus, I am happy to be with you!”

“Bless the Lord oh my soul!”

A visitation for Carmelin will be held Wednesday, April 30, 2025 from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Fountainhead Memorial Funeral Home, 7359 Babcock Street SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909. Her Celebration of Life service will follow at 11:00 AM. A graveside service will be held at 12:00 PM at Fountainhead Memorial Park, 7303 Babcock St SE, Palm Bay, FL 32909.