Angela Veal Carrington

If you have seen a parade at any time in the last 30 or so years in Atlanta, you have seen Angela’s colorfully costumed figure leading the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable Band with great spirit. Angela passed away unexpectedly in her sleep on Friday morning. Inman Park and many social groups feel her loss keenly. Several memorial events have been planned. We will sorely miss our dancer, artist, storyteller, and teacher.

Angela was born in Wrightsville, Georgia, and raised by her mother, Lucile Brantley Veal, and her father Ernest Veal, who was a Methodist Minister. She also lived in Sandersville and Vidalia in her early years. After high school, she attended Wesleyan College, where she came into her full feisty, energetic self with her best friend Christine Sibley.

Angela hung out with the Allman Brothers, was signed out of her dorm by Duane Allman, protested, and generally enjoyed the 1960’s art and music scene while beginning a teaching career. It was when she moved to Atlanta and connected with her life mate and husband of 44 years, Howard Gibson, that she gained a stable base. Angela started her family daycare in the 1980’s that became the renowned Petites Ya-Yas with the colorful bus. This became the Mary Lin Elementary School aftercare program where she was well known for sitting on the bench at the Candler Park Playground. Hundreds of children were cared for by her over the years, and they would greet her enthusiastically, calling out her name, any and everywhere they saw her.

Inman Park was Angela’s neighborhood and cherished home. Howard and Angela purchased their home in 1981 and worked to turn it into the cozy art-filled refuge and fantastical garden it is today. Angela was involved in the Stop the Road protests to save Inman Park from being demolished. On any given day, she could be seen walking through the streets, talking with neighbors, and sitting on porches. A charter member of the Inman Park Pool, she spent her summers socializing there. Angela rarely missed a Porch Party, Potluck Group, or Neighborhood Association meeting. She would be featured every year at the beginning of the Inman Park Parade and always danced at the Butterfly Balls. The Krewe of the Smoking Hot Women was also a favorite group for Angela, and she never missed their regular lunches, gatherings, and art shows.

Angela was a prolific artist, from her early days creating with Chris Sibley all hours of the night, to recent years when she made vibrant pieces in the art room that she shared with her husband Howard. Of course, the art room really wasn’t big enough for both of them, but they made do. In recent years she painted the bird houses that Howard made. Before Chris passed, Angela assisted her in production, firing, and assembly of major pieces including a fountain still at the Atlanta Botanical Garden. She was always so proud of the artwork created by the children in her care and took great joy when they made something exceptional. Her costumes for band performances could be an entire art event of their own!

Angela loved the Seed and Feed Marching Abominable, where she was a prominent dancer (dubbed The Queen) and led many parades, including the Inman Park Parade and Butterfly Ball. In 1988 when Angela joined the Seed and Feed, they were featured on the Today Show with Willard Scott during the Democratic National Convention.

An episode of the tv program Food 911 was filmed at her house with the band. There were also performances for the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta, Piccolo Spoleto Festival in Charleston, concerts in Beaufort S.C., and America’s Got Talent tv show. She danced with actor Hugh Jackman, Governor Roy Barnes, and her favorite, Rep. John Lewis, to name a few. At one Spoleto, Mikhail Baryshnikov called out his admiration as she danced down the street. As recently as last month, she could be found dancing through Little Five Points for the SantaCon bar crawl, covered in Christmas lights, in the freezing cold, late at night, and having a fabulous time!

Angela is survived by her husband Howard Gibson, brother Tom Veal, nieces Ruth Marley and Brantley Christie, stepson Bradley Carrington, many treasured godchildren, children she cared for, her band, her friends, and her beloved neighborhood. She is preceded in death by her parents and her beloved sister Joyce Veal Christie.

There will be a Celebration of Life for Angela at 11:00 a.m. on February 15th at the Inman Park United Methodist Church.